MORE COUPLES are now opting for marriage preparation courses, with an average of 38 couples booking courses each day in January. Some 9,880 couples attended preparation courses run by Accord, Ireland’s largest provider of counselling and pre-marriage education courses, in 2008, representing an increase of 4 per cent on the 2007 figure.
Stephen Cummins, director of marriage education at Accord, said the downturn in the economy would not affect the numbers getting married, adding: “in a time of recession and job loss, what are you left with other than love?”.
Mr Cummins stressed the importance of courses, saying: “there are certain skills couples need to maintain a good relationship, and they can learn these skills from the marriage preparation courses”.
One couple said they chose a marriage course for both the “practical element and the religious aspect”.
On Monday, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin announced €3.45 million for Accord.
www.accord.ie+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: IT)