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

I was struck by the fact that one of the objects of the Togher Family Centre's mission is to deliver "exceptional Early Years and Youth Services where the voice of the child is encouraged, heard and respected". This undoubtedly underpinned the development of the access centre, which was innovative. Through Tusla, my Department supported its establishment and additional funding has been provided to it to support its excellent work.

Regarding moneys to support services for court referrals to the access centre, which is the specific issue that the Deputy has raised, my colleagues in the Department of Justice and Equality and I have an open mind about the positive aspects of the evaluation of the pilot projects. I acknowledge the excellent work being done in the community centre that the Deputy identified. Officials from my Department are meeting officials from the Department of Justice and Equality to discuss the potential for establishing these centres on a national basis. I must wait for recommendations stemming from that meeting or series of meetings before I can make any decision on the centre in question, but we have provided it with additional funding for 2016, 2017 and 2018.

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