I propose to take Questions Nos. 187, 188 and 189 together.
Statistics on the number of guardianship applications made by unmarried fathers to the District Court for the years ending 31 July 1989 to 31 July 1996 are set out on the attached table. Statistics for earlier years are not available.
In relation to the guardianship figures supplied for the District Court, court statistics are not maintained in such a way as to indicate how many of these applications were dealt with by consent or were contested.
Court statistics are not maintained in such a way as to provide information on the number of guardianship applications made by unmarried or single fathers to the Circuit or High Court in the first instance or on appeal. Similarly court statistics on custody and access applications do not indicate how many of these applications were made by unmarried fathers.
Applications for Guardianship made to the District Court by fathers (unmarried) under Section 6 of the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964 as amended by the Status of Children Act, 1987.