Sir, - The Commission for the Family is to be congratulated on producing an informative, user-friendly and far-reaching interim report, Strengthening Families for Life. Of the 525 submissions on which the report is based, 40 per cent identified the provision of counselling services to support families as crucial. February 1997 marks the introduction of divorce in Ireland.
Can we expect that the Government, which has shown such energy and commitment to bringing about this legislative change, will match this drive with its determination to increase its supports vastly for voluntary professional organisations such as ours? "Voluntary" means that our services are available to all, regardless of their ability to pay. "Voluntary" also means that the cornerstone of our service is the six to eight hours a week which our practitioners work for no fee.
The 1996 state allocation of £900,000 for more than 140 such organisations tells a different story. I'm sure you will agree. - Yours, etc.,
Chief executive officer, Marriage and Relationship Counselling Services, 24 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.