Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Family Support Agency.

Denis Naughten

Question:

414 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason for his decision to transfer the family and community service resource centres to the proposed family support agency prior to consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24239/01]

Denis Naughten

Question:

415 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the steps he will take to safeguard the role of the family and community services resource centres in view of discussions between his Department and the centres on the Family Support Agency Bill, 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24240/01]

Denis Naughten

Question:

416 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the basis for the establishment of the family support agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24241/01]

Denis Naughten

Question:

417 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the consultation which took place with the relevant voluntary organisation prior to the publication of the Family Support Agency Bill, 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24242/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 to 417, inclusive, together.

The Government's commitments in An Action Programme for the Millennium form the basis for the establishment of the Family Support Agency. My proposals for a Family Support Agency were further informed by the report of the Commission on the Family which identified the crucial role of accessible counselling services, a nationwide family mediation service and major investment in local community support in strengthening families.

Family fora, which have taken place around the country, have affirmed the need for a close synergy between State, community and family in aiming to address the complex social problems arising in today's society.

The new agency will bring together the main programmes and pro-family services introduced by the Government in line with Families First in recent years – to support families, promote continuity and stability in family life and prevent marital breakdown and foster a supportive community environment for families at local level. Some £12 million – 15.24 million – has been allocated this year by the Government for the development of family services – up from £1.5 million – 1.9 million – in 1997.

The Family Support Agency will provide a family mediation service: support, promote and develop the provision of marriage and relationship counselling and other family support services; support, promote and develop the family and community services resource centre (FRC) programme; provide information on these services and parenting issues; undertake research and advise me, as Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, about family matters.

Thus the Family Support Agency will provide a comprehensive and coherent response for families in need of these services and for families generally. All of these separate activities are cur rently taking place in my Department but it is my own view and that of the Government that a State agency affords the opportunity to bring a coherence into this complex area.

The FRCs are an essential component of the Families First approach in building neighbourhood solidarity and responding to families locally. That is why they have been singled out by Government in recent years for radical improvement and expansion, a course recommended by the Commission on the Family.

In 1997, there were ten centres. In An Action Programme for the Millennium the Government is committed to the establishment of 100 centres. To date there are 75 centres either operational or approved for inclusion in the programme.

The Family Support Agency legislation provides an enabling framework within which the Government have decided that the FRC programme can be further developed. The Family Support Agency will be an important resource to the work of the centres enhancing the role and capacity of these local community initiatives in responding to families at neighbourhood level.

Reassurances about all of these matters and clarification of the Government proposals as set out in the Family Support Agency Bill, the promotion and development of the centres' ways of working and identification of the administrative and practical issues to be addressed to ensure a smooth transfer of the programmes to the new agency when it is established are the focus of ongoing discussions between officials of my Department and the FRC forum. Officials from my Department met representatives of the FRCs on 6 July 2001. A meeting with representatives of the FRC forum took place on 26 September and a further meeting at official level is planned for 13 November. I plan to officially launch the forum later this month.

All of these events are taking place in the spirit of participation and co-working in pursuit of a common aim – in this case the well-being of families – as envisaged in the Government White Paper on supporting voluntary activity which also affirms the fundamental responsibility of Government for setting the direction of policy in social and economic issues.

The Government plans for the Family Support Agency were first announced on 15 May 2001 – UN International Day of Families. Representatives from more than 300 voluntary and community groups providing family support services, the social partners and public representatives were invited to the launch.

The Family Support Agency Bill was published on 13 July 2001 and is at present before Dáil Éireann.