FAMILY difficulties and marital breakdown are a sad reality in Ireland today just as they are in any modern nation at the end of the 20th century, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Mervyn Taylor, has said.
Speaking at the official opening of the Family Mediation Service's new offices in Henry Street, Limerick yesterday, the Minister said the service had had to play a crucial role in helping to resolve the problems arising from marital breakdown.
The Limerick office is the service s first outside Dublin. Mr Taylor also hopes to hire private mediators on a contract basis at other locations.
As Minister for Equality and Law Reform, he had taken over responsibility for implementing measures for the protection and support of couples who had difficulties with their marriage. This programme comprised the development and expansion of the Family Mediation Service and of civil legal aid, the provision of Exchequer funding for marriage guidance and counseling services and the reform of family law.
"In this country," said Mr Taylor, "we have always believed that the family is the cornerstone of society. As a Government, we are committed to supporting it and strengthening it in every possible way.
The Family Mediation Service was funded solely from Exchequer funds provided by the Minister's department, he said. Since he had become Minister in 1993, it had received £130,000. This year £300,000 would be provided.
The chairman of the steering committee of the service, Mr Jim O'Higgins, said that in its 10 year history there had been 5,720 requests for mediation and over 3,300 cases had been dealt with. There was now a waiting list of 160.