Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Separation Applications.

Alan Shatter

Question:

637 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications made and decrees granted under the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 in the High Court in each year since the Act commenced up to 31 July 1996; and the grounds upon which such decrees were granted in respect of each year. [15685/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Court statistics are compiled on the basis of the legal year which runs from 1 August to 31 July.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to applications made to the High Court under the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 and decrees granted by the High Court under the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 is set in the following table for the legal years 1989-90 to 1994-95. Information on the grounds upon which the decrees were granted is not readily available and could only be compiled by the allocation of very scarce resources from other more important tasks which in my view could not be justified.

Legal Year	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	Total
Applications made in the High Court under the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989	16	64	43	25	41	46	235
Decrees granted in the High Court under the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989	0	20	16	19	21	17	93

The information sought by the Deputy in respect of the legal year ending 31 July 1996 will be compiled after the end of the year and I will arrange for it to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Alan Shatter

Question:

638 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for judicial separations currently awaiting hearing in each Circuit Court area and in the High Court. [15686/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The number of applications for judicial separation which are awaiting hearing in the Circuit Court is set out in the following schedule. The number of such applications currently awaiting hearing in the High Court is not readily available but is being sought and I will arrange for them to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Number of Applications under the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989 which are Awaiting Hearing as of 14 June 1996

County	Number of Applications Awaiting Hearing
Carlow	26
Cavan	9
Clare	25
Cork	170
Donegal	25
Dublin	681
Galway	101
Kerry	42
Kildare	31
Kilkenny	21
Laois	8
Leitrim	8
Limerick	112
Longford	4
Louth	65
Mayo	3
Meath	92
Monaghan	16
Offaly	15
Roscommon	7
Sligo	9
Tipperary	64
Waterford	47
Westmeath	20
Wexford	32
Wicklow	73
Total	1,706