Mediation funds cuts to cost state ‘millions’

TAXPAYERS face a multi- million euro bill because government neglect has pushed a service designed to ease the pain and cost of divorce to the brink of collapse, TDs last night warned.

The Family Mediation Service (FMS) has been crippled by lack of resources leading to key staff posts not being filled and ever lengthening waiting lists.

Labour TD Ciarán Lynch will demand a Dáil debate on what he calls Finance Minister Brian Lenihan’s attempts to wreck the service.

Opposition TDs fear decisions on funding for the FMS have been left so long, the crisis-hit service is now on the verge of breakdown.

An intervention by the FMS drastically cuts the cost of divorce to the taxpayer as the bill to the state for amediated settlement comes in at €2,000, as opposed to €9,000 of a disputed one fought with legal aid.

The situation is particularly acute in Cork and Galway where temporary contracts for FMS area co-ordinators have expired with no word from the Department of Finance on future funding, according to Mr Lynch.

“This is yet another example of the Government being penny wise and pound stupid. It is not clear if they intend to wind down the service or they have just taken their eye off the ball.

“Either way, Mr Lenihan is placing couples – who need this service to help them through the trauma of a break-up – in limbo, languishing for up to six months on waiting lists.

“The service also does very well by the taxpayer and if it is allowed to go under it could end up costing the State millions of euro more a year in extra legal aid costs and court disputes.

“It is not possible to perceive how this service can be continued in the absence of these positions being filled. They are highly skilled mediator supervisors, not simply managerial positions, and must be considered an exception to the embargo on managerial appointments,” Mr Lynch said.

The Labour TD will try to force a debate on the matter before the Dáil rises for its two-month summer break on Thursday.

“There are only four full- time offices in the country and 16 part-time offices.

“A part-time office is allowed just one mediator working two days per week, irrespective of the waiting time.

“Waiting lists are already far too long with Cork being the only full-time office in the southern region and has 70 couples waiting to be seen – that means a wait of six months.

“The other offices are part-time with 47 couples waiting in Waterford [and] 25 in Tralee... They won’t be seen for at least five months.

“Galway and the Western region is under immense pressure as well. This is financial madness as the service should be expanded not neglected. At present there is just the equivalent of nine full time mediators for the whole country,” the Cork TD said.