Vol. 487 No. 3
233 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if and when increased funding will be provided to ACCORD services which are based at St. John's parish centre, Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3788/98]
There is an enhanced emphasis in my Department's programmes and grant schemes on supporting families and parenting, and additional resources were provided in the 1998 budget for marriage and child counselling services, the family mediation service and family and community resource centres.
My Department has recently taken over, from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, responsibility for making grants to organisations engaged in marriage and child counselling. I hope to be in a position to announce shortly the procedure to be followed by such organisations in applying for these grants. Organisations such as the ACCORD centre in Tralee will then be able to make their case for funding in the normal way.
