Marriage split can be relief to children - report

Some children are relieved when their parents' marriage breaks up because they are removed from the impact of parental conflict, a new study claims.

"Children's Experiences of Parental Separation", conducted by the Department of Psychology in Trinity College Dublin, also found children's experiences of parental separation were diverse and cannot be described as simply positive or negative.

The report suggests many Irish children experienced continuity in their family life after their parents separated - in terms of their contact and involvement with non-resident parents and with grandparents.

Unveiling the report, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Mary Coughlan, said it "confirms that while children often do not want to be included in decisions pertaining to post-separation family arrangements, they do need to be reassured about the ongoing commitment of both parents to them."

Ms Coughlan said a Family Support Agency (FSA) would be formally established shortly. "The Family Support Agency is the key instrument of Government policy in developing the kind of response that is so necessary to families today," Ms Coughlan said.

"The FSA will report to me as Minister for Social and Family Affairs and will have a major role to play in furthering many of the recommendations in this report".

The report examines the experience of children aged eight to seventeen. It was conducted by Dr Diane Hogan, Ms Ann Marie Halpenny and Dr Sheila Greene of the Children's Research Centre and the Department of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin. It was funded under the Government's Families Research Programme.