Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very conscious of the role that family resource centres play in offering early intervention and support to families in difficulty. The level of funding provided in 2016 demonstrates the Government's support for child and family services around the country.

There are currently 108 communities supported through the family resource centre programme funded by Tusla. In 2016, Tusla is providing €13.5 million in core funding to the family resource centre programme, an increase of €422,000 over 2015. In addition, Tusla is providing funding of €595,000 to 75 family resource centres for low-cost counselling services under the agency's counselling grants scheme. This is an increase of €45,000 over the 2015 provision. Family resource centres are also supported by two regional support agencies, which are funded by Tusla. These support agencies play a key role in promoting good practice and providing technical support, advice and training to family resource centres.

Tusla also provides funding to the family resource centre national forum, which is a support network working with all the family resource centres throughout Ireland and providing networking and training opportunities, information and support. Tusla intends to build on the strengths of the family resource centre programme in the years ahead in meeting its mandate for community-based early intervention and family support. I strongly agree with this approach.

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