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

Tusla has an important role to play with a number of elements of Rebuilding Ireland, the national Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. As the Deputy knows, these include a number of areas where family resource centres, part-funded by Tusla, have a role to play, such as enhanced liaison on family support, child welfare and child protection, practical supports for daily family life and practical supports and advice for good nutrition for those without access to cooking facilities. Tusla is committed to helping provide spaces where homeless children and families can avail of services in a safe, warm, welcoming space and where they feel comfortable and respected. Family resource centres provide facilities where children can do their homework, relax, receive nutritious food, avail of laundry facilities and Wi-Fi and receive family support services and any other relevant supports.

Services using this model have been put in place in a number of family resource centres, including in Mulhuddart, Ballyfermot and Ballymun.

Tusla homeless family support services are also engaging with a number of other family resource centres which may be in a position to offer similar enhanced services. Tusla will extend this service across the greater Dublin area in 2019. Furthermore, as an interim measure, it has established an evening service to support homeless families at the Focus Ireland coffee shop. It has also appointed a homeless liaison officer to facilitate the planning, co-ordination and integration of services with other relevant agencies. I have been informed by Tusla that, where enhanced services as referred to are to be rolled out to family resource centres, they will be underpinned by a service level agreement.

I am pleased to be able to confirm that I have secured €33 million for additional investment in Tusla in 2019, bringing the total annual budget for it to €786 million next year. The additional funding includes €6 million for new developments and other priorities, including further development of family resource centres.

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