The Irish newspaper Independent reports a 40% jump in people using mediation when separating. An Irish pilot project offers mediation to people who arrive at the court to lodge separation applications.
A combination of cost and a fall in waiting times increased the popularity of mediation for separating couples. Previously, clients had been forced to wait almost a year to access the service. However, after an increase in the number of mediators engaged by the Family Mediation Service (FMS) the waiting time is down to between two and three months.