Guide — Ireland
By P.J. Brennan, Parents Plus–trained facilitator · Updated July 2026
The Parenting When Separated course is a programme developed by Parents Plus for parents who are separating or separated. It is the course Irish courts most often refer parents to. It covers solving co-parenting problems, helping children cope, and managing the stress of separation. I am trained by Parents Plus to deliver it, and I run it one-to-one, online or in person, nationwide.
When a judge sees that a parent has completed the Parenting When Separated course, it shows the parent is committed to putting their children first during the separation. In my experience delivering these courses — and from my time in courtrooms giving report feedback — completing the course is taken seriously as a sign of good faith.
I'm P.J. Brennan. I'm trained by Parents Plus to deliver the Parenting When Separated course, I'm an accredited family mediator (MII), CORU registered, and I hold a master's degree in Social Science. I've worked with families across Ireland for over 20 years, and I also write Section 32 reports for the courts. I'm independently listed in the Barnardos parenting courses directory.
After years of delivering these courses and sitting in courtrooms, I kept hearing the same sad stories — good parents drowning in conflict, solicitor letters and costs. I built the Beacon Co-Parenting App so separated parents have a free, structured way to put the course principles into practice every day: calm messaging, a shared calendar, and records that stand up if you ever do need them in court.
Yes. Parenting When Separated, developed by Parents Plus, is the programme Irish courts most often refer separating parents to. Completing it shows the court a parent is committed to putting their children first during the separation.
Helping children cope with separation at every age, communicating with your ex-partner without conflict, solving day-to-day co-parenting problems (handovers, schedules, money), and looking after your own wellbeing so you can be there for your kids.
Yes. I deliver the course one-to-one, online or in person, anywhere in Ireland, with flexible dates and times to suit family life — including evenings and some Saturdays. You can book through www.beaconparenting.ie.
No. Each parent can complete the course separately — most do. It is designed to be “Dad friendly” and works whether or not your ex-partner takes part.
The Beacon Co-Parenting App (app.beaconparenting.ie) is a free tool for putting the course principles into daily practice: structured messaging that can never be deleted, a shared calendar, handover confirmations and expense tracking, overseen by professionals experienced with the Irish family courts.