The Family Resource Centre in question has been funded by the Family Support Agency, under the Family & Community Services Resource Centre Programme since 2005. From 2008 to 2011 the budget allocation provided was to cover the cost of a full time Co-ordinator, a part-time Development Worker and a part-time Administrator. The Family Support Agency, like all other State bodies, has been asked to make savings across all the programmes which it administers. Expected savings over the period 2012 – 2014 are set out in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Effective from April 2012 the budget allocation for this particular Family Resource Centre is estimated at €105,000 to include recent adjustments relating to the appropriate salary payable to two recent appointees.
The Family Support Agency has written to all Family Resources Centres, advising them of the reduction in funding and the need to plan for change. The Agency is acutely aware of the challenges that the reduction in funding presents. It did not stipulate how centres should apply the reduction in funding, but asked the centres to focus in particular on addressing the scope for greater efficiencies to include reducing the day-to-day administration and overhead costs associated with the running of the centres. The objective of this is to continue to support, as far as possible, the services that the centres provide to local families and groups. The Agency advised the centres to engage with, and seek every assistance from, the two regional support agencies that provide support and training to them.
It should be noted that the Family Support Agency is also currently out a review of core funding expenditure within the Family Resource Centre Programme which will inform the future operation of the Family Resource Centre Programme funding.
