Number of couples divorcing rises 2% to more than 3,400

MORE THAN 3,400 couples divorced last year, marking a slight increase on 2005.

Although it is a record number for divorces in a single year in the Republic, the figure represents an increase of less than 2% on the 2004 total.

It is only the second year that the annual total has exceeded 3,000 since divorce was legalised in 1997.

Almost three out of every five applications for divorce are made by women.

Based on official figures, it indicates that less than one-in-seven marriages in Ireland result in divorce.

Nevertheless, the report confirms a continuing upward trend in the numbers seeking divorce, with more than 4,000 applications being received for the first time last year.

However, there was a sharp drop in the number of judicial separations granted in 2005, down to 973 from 1,258 the previous year. A total of 43 orders of nullity were also issued last year.

There was also a slight reduction in the number of barring and protection orders issued by the courts. Over half of all such orders are granted to spouses.

Overall, there has been a general downward trend in the number of people seeking protection from the courts through barring, protection and safety orders since 2000.

The number of cases involving children being taken into care by the Health Service Executive has more than doubled to 975.

Meanwhile, a planned initiative by the Courts Service will see consumers able to lodge claims to the Small Claims Court online from this autumn.

A spokesperson predicted that there would be an increase in the use of the Small Claims Court once the service is operational within the next few months.

The Small Claims Court, which is a division of the country’s District Courts, was established as a low-cost alternative for consumers of dealing with complaints about goods and services worth €2,000 or less without involving a solicitor. The fee for making a small claim is €15.

The court handled 2,705 claims last year, with 55% of all cases being resolved without going to court.

The total represented a reduction of over 300 cases on 2004 figures, although the decrease is largely explained by the establishment of the Private Residential Tenancies Board which took over responsibility for disputes about “key money” operated by landlords.

Complaints about the withholding of deposits on rental properties are traditionally one of the main grievances among consumers taking cases to the Small Claims Court.

The report shows that two-thirds of claimants have the case settled in their favour.

The main source of complaints in 2005 were relating to holidays, cars, furniture and electrical goods.