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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 36 together.

As Deputy Martin Heydon is aware, family support is an important priority for me, as reflected by the increased level of funding for family resource centres in 2018. Family resource centres are front-line services rooted in the communities they serve. They act as a focal point within their communities and provide an holistic service to support children and families. They operate an open-door policy and provide many services and development opportunities at a universal level, while also proactively targeting specific cohorts within their communities.

As the Deputy is aware, 109 family resource centres were in receipt of funding from Tusla at the end of 2017. Tusla was provided with additional funding of €3 million in 2018 to expand the programme, with the inclusion of 11 additional centres, two of which are in Kildare.

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