Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2024
1911. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to core funding of €240,000 for all 121 family resource centres, totalling €8 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33031/24]
View answer1912. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether his Department plans to ensure that no new family resource centre will be planned until all existent family resource centres are on the same footing and aligned in terms of core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33032/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1911 and 1912 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme through Tusla, which amounts to some €24 million in 2024. Tusla has advised my Department that the current level of funding is to sustain the existing services operating in the FRC Programme. In addition to core funding, FRCs draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments, agencies and private sources.
In April, I brought forward a funding equalisation scheme for existing FRCs, which will see all FRC Programme members receive additional core funding in 2024 and ensure that minimum core funding for all FRCs is at least €160,000 from 2025 onwards. This funding will support the pivotal role FRCs play in so many communities across the country by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs.
Any potential changes in funding are considered as part of the annual budgetary process, which represents a significant number of competing priorities in a challenging fiscal space. Notwithstanding this, it is my intention to seek funding in Budget 2025 to stabilise funding to existing FRC Programme members, and to explore options to increase the numbers of FRCs. Any expansion of the Programme will, however, be dependent on the success of my budget negotiations.
