Over the past three years, thanks to the considerable amount of work which has been done by the Family Support Agency, the number of Family Resource Centres under the Family & Community Services Resource Centre Programme has increased from 53 to 91. Government funding under the Programme has increased in the same period from €6.9m. to €12.9m.
I have approved a further nine groups to join the Programme and they are currently working with their Regional Support Agencies in preparation for their inclusion. The locations of these nine groups are two in Kerry, three in Mayo and one each in counties Longford, Donegal, Kildare and Waterford.
I am confident that these groups will be included in the Programme before the end of 2006, thereby meeting the target of 100 Family Resources Centres in place by the year end which was set in the National Development Plan 2000-2006.