Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 1997

Vol. 478 No. 7

Written Answers - Marriage Counselling Service.

Eamon Walsh

Question:

101 Mr. E. Walsh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the number and amount of grants approved by him for each of the past five years for marriage and child counselling in Dublin South West; the comparative figure for the previous five year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12074/97]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

A scheme of grants to voluntary organisations providing marriage counselling services was instituted by my Department in 1994 when £750,000 was made available for this purpose. In 1996, and again in 1997, the amount available was increased to £900,000 and the scope of the scheme was extended to include voluntary organisations providing counselling to children whose parents have separated. Prior to 1994 there was no money at my Department's disposal that could be used to fund such a scheme and, therefore, the provision of figures of comparative costs for previous years does not arise.

Two marriage counselling organisations in Dublin South West have benefited under the scheme. Since 1994 the amounts of the grants paid to these organisations are as follows:

Organisation	1994	1995	1996	1997(initial payments)
	£	£	£	£
Newlands Institute, Clondalkin	15,000	15,500	17,000	4,000
St. Anne's Resource Centre, Tallaght	—	—	2,000	1,000
Total	15,000	15,500	19,000	5,000

In March 1997, an initial payment was made to a number of marriage counselling organisations, including the Newlands Institute and St. Anne's Resource Centre, in respect of the 1997 scheme of grants. Work is continuing in my Department on the examination of the application for benefit under this scheme in order to determine the full amount of the grant payable to each eligible organisation in 1997. I expect that this work will be completed in time to allow payment of the second and final instalment to be made by my Department before the end of July 1997.