Vol. 437 No. 4
149 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, that he has taken to put the Family Mediation Service on a statutory basis; when he expects to have the service established on a permanent basis and available outside Dublin; and the way in which he plans to structure the service in the meantime.
The Family Mediation Service was established on a pilot basis in 1986 and has continued on that basis since. It is my intention to develop and expand the service and establish it on a permanent basis. Development proposals, including the provision of services in locations outside Dublin, are at an advanced stage in my Department. A provision of £300,000 has been made for the service in 1994, which is more than double the 1993 provision, to facilitate this expansion and development. My priority at present is the development of the service and consideration will be given in due course to the question of legislation.
