Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2021
144. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be provided for a family and community resource centre (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50225/21]
View answerTusla administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme which provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme and since 2019, an additional €1.5m has been provided in funding. This means that funding for 2021 will amount to €18 million.
Organisations that wish to join the Programme are advised to contact Tusla in the first instance, with regard to the potential next steps. Currently, there are no plans to expand the FRC Programme or to establish new funding schemes for the Programme in the immediate future. Any such plans would depend on the availability of additional funding for the Programme, and decisions on the most appropriate use of such funding.
Tusla continues to work with community-based family support organisations, including the seven FRCs in County Mayo, to best meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and communities. Tusla currently provides additional resources to Castlebar FRC for the employment of a community-based outreach family support worker who operates in the Erris area. Tusla continues to actively engage with the Erris area, including the establishment of a new Youth Project.
