Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That €6 million is welcome, but people are still unclear on the exact role family resource centres will play. Are the new services only for those families in hubs or will the supports be available to all those in hotel rooms, guest houses and bed and breakfast accommodation? The constituency I represent and that represented by the Minister are among those that have the highest numbers on housing and homeless lists in the country. Are the new services targeted at those centres?

I know that there have been some changes recently to the Focus Ireland placement service. I was in contact with its director, Mike Allen, who told me that changes in how families were booked into homeless accommodation had taken place. For example, I mention the Focus Ireland evening coffee service which is part funded by Tusla. Will the regional housing executive co-ordinate these efforts in the additional services being provided?

Is this not still a very piecemeal approach the Minister is adopting to providing essential services for families and children? We seem to be operating on an ad hocbasis. As the Minister knows, we have the scandal where a vast number of children are homeless, some of whom have been in unsuitable accommodation for more than two years. How exactly will the guidelines for family resource centres operate?

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