The family services project operated by my department is designed to provide a high quality information service on the range of supports available to families from State agencies and from the community and voluntary sector with a particular emphasis on the services available locally. The project also provides information and customer referrals to the recently established family support agency.
Following the success of the initial pilot phase of the project the Government allocated €15,236,858, £12 million, over the period 2000-06 in the national development plan for the progressive expansion of the successful elements of the project, €1,269.738, £1 million, in each of the years 2000 and 2001 and €2,539,476, £2 million, per year thereafter.