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Family Mediation Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Ceisteanna (360, 361, 362, 367)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

360. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that a full-time and dedicated family mediator is immediately allocated to the Letterkenny family mediation office; if she is aware that there are 27 couples on the County Donegal waiting list for mediation, and that no new cases have been taken off the list since October 2014. [14422/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

361. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of family mediators working for the Family Mediation Service across the southern, midlands, west and north-western regions regarding the impact on client services of the proposed rolling six-month contracts for the new panel of contractor mediators; and if she will ensure that families who rely on this vital service have equal access and support, no matter where they live. [14432/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

362. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of couples or families on waiting lists for a mediator with the Family Mediation Service, on an office basis. [14433/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

367. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the issues facing the Letterkenny office of the Family Mediation Service, where no mediator is in place and no service is being provided, and with 27 couples on the waiting list; the inequity of service being provided across the country as a result of management decisions regarding mediator contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14566/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 to 362, inclusive, and 367 together.

I wish to advise the Deputies that the Family Mediation Service falls under the auspices of the Legal Aid Board which is independent in the exercise of its functions, in accordance with Section 3 (3) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. Furthermore, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I am not responsible or accountable to the Dáil for the matters referred to in the Deputies' questions. However, in order to be helpful to the Deputies I have had enquiries made of the Board and I have been informed that there is no permanently employed mediator in the Letterkenny office at present. A contract mediator completed her cases during the month of March and another contract mediator commenced taking cases in the office on 13 April 2015.

The Board is subject to the recruitment moratorium and the Employee Control Framework, however I am informed that they are looking at a longer term strategy for providing mediation services, including the manner in which contract mediators are engaged.

The number of couples on the waiting list in Letterkenny family mediation office is currently 17. The following figures show the numbers on the waiting list in Letterkenny at the beginning of January 2011 to 2015:

Year

Waiting list

2011

16

2012

8

2013

7

2014

17

2015

20

For comparison, the current waiting lists in the Letterkenny office and other part-time single mediator offices are as follows:

Mediator offices

Current waiting list

Letterkenny

17

Sligo

11

Castlebar

13

Portlaoise

16

Athlone

21

Waterford

29

Tralee

10

Finally, I have been advised by the Board that waiting list numbers fluctuate and the needs of each office is reviewed on an ongoing basis. The Legal Aid Board is committed to the provision of a timely and professional mediation service throughout the country.

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