Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 4

Written Answers. - Family Support Services.

John Perry

Question:

175 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the progress that has been made with the application (details supplied) for funding for St. Michael's Family Life Centre, County Sligo; if he will ensure that funding is provided in view of the comprehensive programme that this centre provides to improve the functioning of the family unit; the amount of moneys that will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16019/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern):

In 1998 my Department received an application from St. Michael's Family Life Centre, Sligo, seeking inclusion in the family and community services resource centre programme. An application seeking inclusion in the programme was also received at that time from a second group in Sligo. Having considered both applications my Department considered that neither centre nor application met the Department's criteria in full for inclusion in the programme. The Department was also concerned that both centres were based in the same ward in Sligo and were targeting families in the same catchment area.

Officers of my Department met with representatives of both groups and outlined the difficulties with the applications, that is, possible duplication of activities/target area, no rationale for funding two centres in the same area, etc. As my Department's concern is to ensure that the needs of disadvantaged families are met in the most appropriate manner, rather than deciding between competing applications, the Department suggested that both groups come together to identify and address the needs of the area and seek funding as one project. The groups, having considered this option, indicated that they were unable to co-operate in the manner outlined, with both centres indicating that they wished to pursue separate applications.

The situation was further complicated when the Department received applications from two additional groups, operating in the same area, also seeking funding under the Department's pro grammes, bringing to four the total number of applications from that area. My Department was also aware that a fifth project based in the area was also addressing family support needs and was participating in the Springboard project operated by the Department of Health and Children.

In an effort to find a solution to the situation my Department met with the local health board to consider how best both agencies could support groups in the area who were providing for family support needs. However, following further consideration of the matter it became apparent that, taking into account the resources available to both agencies, it would not be possible to support all the groups in the area. In assessing applications under my Department's programmes it is essential to ensure that funding is targeted to address the needs of the most marginalised and vulnerable families and to ensure that any project selected for funding is the most appropriate project to provide for these support needs and that it does so without duplicating the services and support provided by other groups.

Therefore, in order to ensure that the needs of disadvantaged families in Sligo town are addressed in the most appropriate manner, I recently approved the commissioning of research to consider the needs of Sligo town in terms of family support; to recommend on the establishment of one resource centre for the town; to recommend where this centre should be based with a view to addressing the areas of most need, taking into account the need for any such centre to be accessible to the community it would service and to recommend on an appropriate organisational structure for the centre.

I expect this research to commence shortly and the applications received from St. Michael's Family Centre and from the other groups in the area will be made available to the researchers to consider in the context of the work they are undertaking. I am satisfied that undertaking this research will ensure that my Department is in a position to address, in the most appropriate way, the support needs of the most disadvantaged families in Sligo town.