James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tusla engages regularly with the Family Resource Centre National Forum. Earlier this year, the forum highlighted its wish to discuss various issues, including recent changes by Tusla to structures and funding, among other matters. Tusla had a productive meeting with the forum on 7 July last in which the following items were discussed: closer local liaisons between the family resource centres and area managers; more recognition of family resource centres in Tusla's corporate plan; the classification of the family resource centre programme as a national structure supporting child and family services; family resource centre representation on local child and young person services committees; the addition of two new family resource centres to the programme; staffing and budgetary issues within the family resource centres; and the possible impact of Tusla's commissioning strategy on the family resource centres. Several other issues were discussed as well.

Tusla is in close contact with the Family Resource Centre National Forum and appreciates the work it does. I await Tusla's business plan to see how it will apportion spending this year to the centres. I agree with the Deputy that early intervention is critically important, whether it be health or child care. That is why I am keen that we invest money in the ECCE, early childhood care and education programme, and why I also welcome the planned introduction of paternity leave. The first year of a child's life is critically important in terms of bonding. Anything that interferes with that should be addressed.

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