Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has given me a positive but a very general answer. He has said that sometimes Tusla provides supports without family support centres. The Minister and I know that a family support centre provides holistic resources and supports to families within a geographical area, which is hugely important. Sometimes disadvantage can be harder to see in rural areas. It is more dispersed and because of that it is less visible. However, we still have many families on low incomes, an ageing population and small farm holdings. We also have the same pattern of alcohol and drug misuse, abuse and addiction as everywhere else in the country. The families in the very significant part of County Leitrim that I have referred to need these services. I ask the Minister, in his capacity, works with Tusla to ensure that families in that area can get the kind of services that are available all around them in other counties.

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