Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
707. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to provide support for families in the event of family breakdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34448/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency provides a range of supports for families, including those affected by family breakdown. These supports include, for example, the provision of counselling services.
I have asked Tusla to provide me with details of current service provision in this area and I will forward this information to the Deputy when available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to parliamentary question No. 707 tabled by you for answer on 15 November 2016 in relation to the provision of support for families in the event of a family breakdown.
Family Support Services funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provide a wide range of supports to assist parents and children to function better as families. Family Resource Centres are a core part of this service.
There are currently 109 communities supported through the Family Resource Centre Programme. In 2016, Tusla is providing €13.5m in core funding to the Family Resource Centre Programme, an increase of some €400,00 over 2015.
The Family Resource Centre programme is Ireland's largest family support programme delivering universal and targeted community-based family support services and developmental opportunities within disadvantaged communities across the country based on a life-cycle approach. Family Resource Centres (FRCs) work with children, parents and communities to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit.
Family Resource Centres operate a wide range of services to children and families, including Strengthening Families Programme, parent support groups, after school clubs, homework clubs, counselling and parent and toddlers groups.
In relation specifically to families experiencing relationship/marital difficulties, Family Resource Centres provide a safe place for families to meet. In 2015, 253 Case Conferences were held in FRCs, 241 Family Mediation Sessions took place and 1231 Child Contact Sessions were also held.
In 2015 under Tusla’s Counselling Grants Scheme, funding of €4.55m issued to support families experiencing relationship/marital difficulties and family breakdown to access counselling support on a no cost / low cost basis. Services supported included thoseproviding marriage and relationship counselling, services for adolescents following parental separation and group based support for primary school age children.
In 2015, 186 voluntary organisations received funding to provide low cost marriage/relationship counselling. One of these organisations, Accord, provided marriage/relationship counselling through its 35 nationwide offices and its 12 Dublin offices. Another organisation, Relationships Ireland, in addition to providing relationship counselling, also supported teenagers through its Teen Between service going through or following parental separation. Rainbows Ireland through its group based support for children supported 1,855 children experiencing parental separation through 262 groups in schools, parishes and family resource centres nationwide. 70 Family Resource Centres provided low cost marriage/relationship counselling in communities nationwide.
The precise level of funding to be allocated to the family support services and counselling services will be considered by Tusla, in preparing its Business Plan, having regard to the overall level of funding available in 2017, which will exceed €700m, including the additional Budget 2017 provision.
I would like to assure you that I will continue to support these services which provide vital supports to children and families in need. I trust that this information is of assistance.
