asked the Minister for Justice the total number of married couples who have been involved in a matrimonial dispute that has resulted in court proceedings being initiated in either the District Court, Circuit Court or High Court in each of the last ten years, including court proceedings initiated for maintenance, barring orders, custody orders, applications for decrees of judicial separation, applications for nullity decrees, applications for decrees pursuant to the Family Home Protection Act, 1976 and the Married Womens Status Act, 1957.
Written Answers. - Marriage Breakdown Statistics.
435.
Limerick East): The available statistical information on the matters covered by the Question is in the form in which I answered Dáil questions by the Deputy on 20 June 1984 and which related to varying past periods. It would not be possible to compile statistics in the form now sought without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time. Experience gained in compiling the statistics, particularly of the lower courts, for reply to the Deputy's previous questions makes it clear that the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time could also be involved in compiling statistics in the form then used but for earlier periods.