Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
490. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the long-standing arrangement remains that the national FRC programme budget is a distinct budget within the Tusla Vote, with appropriate Departmental oversight, aligned to the unique policy orientation of the programme as a national community development and social inclusion programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32179/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra491. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department retains oversight of the national FRC programme budget and its unique policy purpose, whilst devolving the operational administration of the programme to Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32180/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra492. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a shared understanding between his Department and Tusla in respect of the difference between the national FRC programme budget inherited by Tusla from the former Family Support Agency versus additional funding Tusla may allocate to FRCs for specified service provision aligned to the statutory objectives of Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32181/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 490, 491 and 492 together.
On 01 January 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, was established as an independent body to improve wellbeing and outcomes for children and to support families Tusla has other objectives and functions in addition to those.
As Minister, I retain oversight of the budget of Tusla. One of Tusla's many competing priorities is the management of the Family Resource Centre Programme. Tusla Commissioning develops the administration and operational processes for that programme and is responsible for the dissemination of the related funding.
The Family Resource Centre Programme currently provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme. Funding to the program in 2018 was approximately €17.5 million. It has risen to over €21 million in 2023.
In 2014, the Family Resource Centre Programme was incorporated into Tusla. Previous to that, the core budget for FRCs came from the Family Support Agency which ceased to exist in 2014.
The funding from my Department represents only a portion of the total funding available to Family Resource Centres. Family Resource Centres draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments and agencies. Tusla National Office may receive additional once-off funding from DCEDIY for example Dormant Account Funding for the Family Resource Centres. The allocation of funding to services is an operational matter for Tusla.
Independent of the Programme, Tusla Local Offices may also award different amounts of funding to individual Family Resource Centres to carry out specific pieces of work. Tusla Commissioning sign a yearly contract with each Family Resource Centre. A Schedule of Service which outlines the work to be carried out for each specific piece of funding must be completed and uploaded to the Tusla Portal which then once reviewed will be accepted by Tusla Commissioning. A monitoring and review meeting is carried out to ensure governance and compliance also to offer support and information.
Family Resource Centres are a national cross-agency programme. They are independent limited companies who offer community-based family support in defined catchment areas. Family Resource Centres promote participation, equality, awareness raising, early intervention, strengths, and advocacy across a range of issues for people and on behalf of people.
A spending review of Tusla-funded family support services is ongoing. A summary of the review was published in December 2022 and two detailed chapters are expected in the near future. This review will help inform future priorities for investment in such family support services.
I will continue to engage with Tusla, and Family Resource Centres on the key issues of their funding and sustainability of the valuable services they provide to our communities. I will consider Tusla's provision of family support services in the Performance Framework for Tusla for the period 2024-2026. The Performance Framework allows me to set prioritisation parameters for Tusla over a three year period and ensures Tusla are aligned with the strategic direction I have set for them.
In the meantime, Tusla continues to work with community-based family support organisations to best meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and communities.
