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

I thank Deputy Rabbitte for those qualifying questions. Tusla is currently finalising details of the funding to be allocated to family resource centres in 2017. As the Deputy knows, I was able to increase the overall budget for Tusla for 2017. It will confirm funding levels for individual centres shortly. I understand the various issues raised by the Deputy in terms of the difficulties and the levels of funding. Tusla is looking at that and is engaging with Family Resource Centre National Forum, which represents the views of all the family resource centres nationally. It also meets with individual family resource centres on an annual basis to discuss governance, funding and service issues. Tusla recognises the benefits that additional funding can bring to family resource centres. In my 2017 statement to Tusla, I emphasised the importance of prevention and early intervention in enhancing outcomes for families and children as one of my key priorities.

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