asked the Minister for Justice if he will give the following information in relation to the Pilot Family Conciliation Scheme as initiated by him and as reported in the media (details supplied) on 5 March 1985: (a) the authority by which he has launched this service; (b) the projected cost; (c) if the activity is to be carried out by public employees or by grant or contract with a group; and (d) if it is to be carried out by non-public employees, if he will supply a copy of the grant application or the State's contract drawn up with those who will deliver the service.
Written Answers. - Pilot Family Conciliation Scheme.
853.
Limerick East): On 24 February 1985, the Minister of State at my Department announced the appointment of a steering committee with the following terms of reference: (a) to draw up a pilot family conciliation scheme; (b) subject to approval, to provide a family conciliation service in accordance with the terms of the scheme on an experimental basis for a period of up to three years; and (c) to make provision for independent assessment of the effectiveness of the scheme on a continuous basis and, at the end of the experimental period, to report to the Minister for Justice on its effectiveness.
The steering committee are at present drawing up a pilot scheme. Details of the projected cost of the scheme and the manner of its implementation will not be available until the form of the scheme has been approved. It is intended that the pilot scheme will be a non-statutory one. A new sub-head — Conciliation Service — has been opened in this year's Estimate for the Office of the Minister for Justice.