I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together.
I recognise and value the very positive impact of the work of the Family Resource Centres in supporting families and local communities. The centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their community. This universal accessibility allows for early identification of need, provision of appropriate interventions, and timely referrals to appropriate services for more intensive and targeted work as required.
I continue to provide Ministerial direction to Tusla in respect of specifying the total level of funding of the Family Resource Centre programme and direction on the admission of new Family Resource Centres to the programme. I regularly attend many Family Resource Centre events, including their National Forum's recent anniversary celebration.
As the Deputy has indicated the community group referenced in the question received funding from Tusla to become a Family Support Service and not a Family Resource Centre under the programme.
Tusla’s Area Managers engage in the commissioning process and participate in meetings and discussions with community NGOs. Tusla aims to utilise the total resources available in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way in order to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families. Local Tusla Area Managers and the Tusla Commissioning Team can be contacted in relation to Family Resource Centres planned service delivery and potential to develop services.
Tusla National Commissioning Office have received several requests to become members of the FRC Programme from organisations in various parts of the country. In the event the FRC Programme is expanded, a transparent process will be established to ensure all applications are treated equitably. The Tusla Area Commissioning Plan will be a critical contribution to the decision-making process. If a new process is established, it will be published, and local Tusla Managers will be made aware of the process. Organisations that wish to join the Programme are advised to contact Tusla in the first instance, with regard to the potential next steps. Currently, there are no plans to expand the Family Resource Centre Programme or to establish new funding schemes for the Programme in the immediate future.
However, as you may already be aware, a spending review of Tusla-funded family support services is being finalised. 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 the programme.
I will continue to engage with Tusla, and Family Resource Centres on the key issue 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 my Performance Framework for Tusla for the period 2024-2026.
In the meantime, Tusla continues to work with community-based family support organisations to best meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and communities.
