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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2019

Thursday, 9 May 2019

Questions (155)

Seán Fleming

Question:

155. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided to projects (details supplied) in 2018; the estimated amount to be paid in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20202/19]

View answer

Written answers

In 2018, my Department allocated €16.5m to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for the Family Resource Centre Programme. This funding increased to €18m in 2019.

Tusla’s Family Resource Centre Programme provides the financial support which typically covers the employment of two to three members of staff and some overhead costs for each FRC. 120 Family Resource Centres (FRCs), 2 support networks and the Family Resource Centre National Forum (FRCNF) were supported under the Family Resource Centre Programme, in 2018.

Other Tusla services provided funding of €2,728,871 to FRCs to support their work.

The funding provided by Tusla to each of the FRCs in 2018 will be sent to the Deputy directly.

Tusla is engaging directly with Family Resource Centres, support networks and the FRCNF regarding their funding levels for 2019. I recently announced how the additional €1.5m for 2019 is to be used to support the sustainability of existing Family Resource Centres (FRCs) and to enable a number of FRCs to engage additional family support workers.

A number of FRCs also receive funding from other sources within my Department.

Many Family Resource Centres provide Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) to children. My Department, through a Funding Agreement, provides a range of supports through capitation payments and other programmes. The complete list of FRCs which received this funding in 2018 is currently being compiled by my officials, and a full list will be provided to the Deputy directly. Funding in 2019 will be based on the level of ELC/SAC provision in each centre.

The Trim Family Resource Centre in County Meath received funding of €34,692.90 under the 2018 Quality and Capacity Building Initiative (QCBI) Innovation Fund, which is administered by Tusla, on behalf of my Department. This funding supported a project, which enabled young people to re-engage with education and/or training and employment, to develop life skills that foster good relations, build confidence and resilience. Funding has not been provided for this project under the QCBI in 2019.

In 2018, the Youth Affairs Unit in my Department provided funding of €89,203 to the Northside Family Resource Centre in Ballynanty, Limerick, for the "Follow Your Dream" youth project. The same level of funding will be provided to the Northside FRC for this project in 2019.

My Department also provided funding under the Capacity Building Grant for the National LGBTI+ Strategy to three Family Resource Centres in 2018. Ballymun Child and Family Resource Centre in Dublin received €1,400, Greystones Family Resource Centre in Co. Wicklow received €2,500, and Northside Family Resource Centre in Ballynanty, Limerick, received €3,770.40 under this funding stream. Funding amounts for 2019 have not yet been determined.

I should inform that Deputy that the funding from my Department represents only a portion of the total funding available to FRCs nationally. FRCs draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments and Agencies. I am informed by Tusla that, in 2018, FRCs received in excess of €40m when all funding sources were considered.

I recognise and value the very positive impact of the work of the Family Resource Centres in supporting families and local communities. The Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their community. This universal accessibility allows for early identification of need, provision of appropriate interventions, and timely referrals to appropriate services for more intensive and targeted work as required.

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