Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What kind of uptake has there been in this regard? That is all I really want to know. It is a very basic question. I am also concerned about the increase in the number of children in care. Although the figures we have been given regarding the number of referrals of children in welfare protection cover a nine-month period only, I think it is important to look at them. It is obvious that the number of people accessing information and advice through family resource centres - 140,000 - represents an increase on last year. Does the Department have an explanation for why people are turning to local family resource centres in greater numbers?