I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 49 together.
The growing number of divorces and separations is a source of concern. In the year 2001 there were almost 5,500 applications for divorce and judicial separation. Family life is facing significant challenges in today's rapidly changing society, from increasing work pressures and poverty, to trying to reconcile these pressures with family life, and from the demands of an increasingly consumer orientated society. Support for stability in family life, addressing marital breakdown, the effects of separation and divorce on families and building a supportive community environment for families are key features of the Government's policy approach to these challenges.
The family support agency, which I plan to establish shortly, will provide a statutory underpinning for the future development of a range of important family supports which have been developed by my Department in line with these developments over the past few years. The agency will provide a family mediation service; support, promote and develop the provision of marriage and relationship counselling and family support services; support, promote and develop the family and community services resource centres programme; promote and disseminate information about these services and other family issues and, provide financial assistance to voluntary organisations for these purposes.
The agency will also undertake research and will have an advisory role to me on family matters. The Government has provided €17.20 million to enable the family support agency to develop its functions in 2003. The establishment of the agency is an important development in the formulation and delivery of effective services to promote and support family well-being.
The Chairman and members designate of the new body have been appointed and they have been meeting regularly in recent months to oversee the completion of the preparatory arrangements to enable the agency to carry out its responsibilities under the Act. The arrangements for the appointment of the chief executive officer to manage and control generally the administration and business of the agency are almost finalised and I expect to be in a position to formally establish the family support agency shortly when that appointment is made.