Trevor Sargent
Question:15 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the grant allocations made to legal aid services, mediation and marriage counselling in each of the years 1994 and 1995. [12196/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Grant Allocations.
Details of allocations which are the subject of this question are set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
These details are also set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services for 1994-95, copies of which are in the Oireachtas Library.
Grant allocations made to Legal Aid Services, mediation and marriage counselling in each of the years 1994-95.
|
Services |
Allocation |
|
|
1994 |
1995 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Legal Aid Board |
4,972,000 |
6,200,000 |
|
Free Legal Advice Centres |
45,000 |
45,000 |
|
Family Mediation Service |
300,000 |
300,000 |
|
Marriage Counselling Services |
750,000 |
750,000 |
I have some idea of the figures in general but can the Minister reconcile the amount given for legal aid services with the amount for mediation and counselling in light of his statement on 25 April when he said: "Where a marriage breaks down I am concerned that immediate resort to the law can effect a prospect of reconciliation or a voluntary settlement". He proposes that mediation and counselling be given priority. Does he accept that a great effort has been made to develop a national legal aid service and that the same effort needs to be put into developing a national counselling and mediation service if his priority, as stated in the reply, is to be given full effect?
When a reply is to be printed in the Official Report and not given orally, Members must await that reply rather than pursue the matter by way of supplementary question. It does not make sense to ask supplementary questions when the reply to the main question is not known. That is established precedent.
In deference to the Chair's ruling I will not deal with the figures. It is not correct to say and I should not have said, if I did so, that free legal aid, family mediation or marriage counselling are in any order of priority. They all have equal priority and are important matters. If I said one had priority over the other I should not have done so. I doubt if I did say it.
It is written here.
They are important factors and fulfil different functions. Many people tend to confuse mediation with counselling. There is a nationwide marriage counselling service available which is operated by voluntary organisations. The amount given is substantial and is much in excess of what was given in previous years. As a result, marriage counselling organisations have been able to increase the range of their services, the number of counselling hours and the level of training. The position with mediation is not quite as satisfactory. The amount given to this service has been doubled and will enable a second family mediation service to be opened in Limerick. Until now there was only one in Dublin.
At a committee meeting recently I said that in order to supplement that position and make some form of mediation service available at other locations throughout the country, the family mediation service intends to use where possible, the services of private mediators on a contract basis. They will operate on this basis within the ambit of the family mediation service. Even if funds were available it is not possible to substantially extend and provide new family mediation centres because there are insufficient personnel available with the necessary training and professionalism. This is a comparatively new profession in Ireland. I cannot speak highly enough of the professionalism of the available personnel in the family mediation service. Personnel are trained both abroad and in the family mediation service. There is only a small number of trained, skilled professional mediators in the country. We must make the best of what we have at present. It is the profession of the future and has an important role to play. In time it will be necessary to have formal training and certification arrangements.
How many trained mediators are there? Does the Minister intend to increase the number and regulate the qualifications necessary for mediators? That is an important area. Which countries require one to enter into mediation before allowing a divorce?
I do not wish to constrain Deputies in any way but the question is plainly and simply a statistical one and the Deputy is going beyond its bounds.
It would have been preferable to join the two questions.
This seems to be a grey area, similar to marriage breakdown. Even though the grant allocation to legal aid mediation and marriage counselling services is different there should be a national policy to govern the coordination, development and quality control of counselling and mediation services similar to that which applies to civil legal aid. When is it proposed to formulate a policy on mediation and marriage counselling services?
The Deputy has gone beyond the bound of the question.