Joe Sherlock
Question:131 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which has been made on the Forum on the Family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24212/03]
Vol. 573 No. 1
131 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress which has been made on the Forum on the Family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24212/03]
Families and family life are undergoing profound changes in Ireland. The main reasons include the increasing participation of women in employment, difficulties in reconciling work and family life, growing incidence of marital breakdown and lone parenthood generally, ageing of the population and the likely growth in the numbers of dependent elderly.
The Family Support Agency was formally established in May of this year to draw together the main family-related programmes and services developed by the Government since 1997. Its functions include the provision of services in relation to family mediation, marriage and relationship counselling and family support services, dissemination of information on family related services and programmes, including parenting, and support for the promotion and development of family and community services. The agency is currently finalising its strategic plan on implementing its functions for submission next month in accordance with the requirements of the Family Support Agency Act 2001.