Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2013
598. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are any plans or proposals to rationalise the number of family resource centres under the new Child and Family Support Agency; if she envisages 106 family resource centres in the future; if they will continue in their current service provision or if there are plans to either reduce or expand the number of services they provide. [24036/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has approved the Heads of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being prioritised so that the Agency can be established as soon as possible. The Agency, upon establishment, will assume full statutory responsibility for a range of child and family services currently provided by three separate agencies; namely the HSE, the Family Support Agency, including the Family Resource Centre Programme, and the National Educational Welfare Board.
It is my intention that the Agency will have a role in supporting families and communities. I can assure the Deputy that the new Agency will build on the excellent work undertaken by the Family Support Agency over the last decade, and that a community based approach will form an integral part of the new Child and Family Support Agency.
Funding of over €23.5 million has been provided to the Family Support Agency (FSA) for 2013. This includes a dedicated provision of over €14 million in respect of the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2013. Under the programme some 106 Family Resource Centres will receive funding from the FSA this year. The FSA, like all other State bodies, has been asked to make savings across all the programmes which it administers. In this context the Family Resource Centres have been asked to focus, in particular, on identifying the scope for greater efficiency and for reduction in the administration and overhead costs associated with the day-to-day running of the centres.
