5% of couples returned to marriages after separation counselling

THE Government’s Family Mediation Service provided separation counselling to 1,500 couples in 2005 and 75 of these returned to their marriages, it emerged yesterday.

Social and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan said the pressures of modern living was placing increasing demands on individuals and families.

Earlier this year, the Catholic Church’s Accord agency said it provided 30,000 counselling sessions to 12,000 people — its highest total in its 35-year history.