Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 October 2015
88. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to direct Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to address the salary inequalities in the family resource centres where staff doing the similar work, at the same grade but in different centres, are paid at different levels due to legacy issues in the development of the structures. [36674/15]
View answerOn its establishment on 1 January, 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency took over responsibility for the Family Resource Centre Programme which was previously operated by the then Family Support Agency.
Tusla is spending €13.09m in 2015 in supporting 109 Family Resource Centres around the country. Funding has been maintained this year at 2014 levels.
Tusla very much values the work of the Family Resource Centres and recognises the positive impact of their work in supporting families and local communities around the country. Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to children and families in their communities.
Family Resource Centres are independent companies limited by guarantee and are managed by a Voluntary Board of Management which is representative of the local community. While Tusla funds the salaries of staff engaged by Family Resource Centres, each individual Family Resource Centres is responsible for the recruitment of employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed.
I welcome Tusla's intent to improve and build on the strengths of the Family Resource Centre Programme in meeting its mandate for community-based early intervention and family support.
As the Deputy will be aware, I announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for next year. Tusla will have available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015.
The precise level of funding to be provided to Family Resource Centres will now be considered by Tusla in developing its Business Plan for 2016, which will be sent to me for consideration.
The Government, since its establishment, has attached particular priority to supporting vulnerable children and families and the significant increase in funding being made available to Tusla next year represents further evidence of our delivery on this ambition.
