Family mediation service and resource centres face cuts

SERVICES for families in crisis have been hit by a 5% cut, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald has confirmed.

Both family resource centres and the family mediation service will be cut by 5% each and expenditure for the new department, headed up by Ms Fitzgerald, will be €400 million in 2012, reducing to €373 by 2014.

Savings of €16.5m must be achieved in each of the next three years.