Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2012
570. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the future of a resource centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56676/12]
View answerThe Family Support Agency provides support for families under the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. The aim is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. Key services provided by FRCs include:
- Information, advice and support for groups and families at local level.
- Childcare facilities for those attending courses provided by the FRC.
- After-school clubs.
- Education courses and training opportunities.
- Assistance to community groups (such as training and the shared use of facilities).
Family Resource Centres have an important role to play in harnessing local community efforts in support of improved outcomes for children and young people which is a key objective of my Department.
As part of the national effort to address Ireland’s fiscal deficit, the Family Support Agency, like many other State bodies, has been asked to make savings across all the programmes which it administers. The Agency is required to achieve savings of 5% per annum over 2012 – 2014 on the costs of the Family Resource Centre Programme. The Family Resource Centres the Deputy is referring each received over €116k in funding in 2012 from the Family Support Agency.
The Family Support Agency wrote to the family resources centres advising them of the reduction in funding and the need to plan for change. The Agency is aware of the challenges that the reduction in funding raises for the family resource centres throughout the country. The Agency has not stipulated how centres should apply the revised level of funding. The family resource centres have been asked to focus, in particular, on identifying the scope for greater efficiency and for reduction in the administration and overhead costs associated with the day-to-day running of the centres, with the objective of supporting as far as possible, the services that the centres provide to families and groups at local level.
