Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for the family resource centre programme; the way she envisages same within the new Child and Family Support Agency; if she can assuage fears regarding funding support for the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32624/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There are 107 family resource centres throughout the country funded by the Family Support Agency. My Department assumed responsibility for the FSA when it was established earlier this year. I welcome the opportunity this provides to promote effective operational relationships between the family resource centres and other providers of services to children and families.

The aim of the family resource centre programme is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. The programme emphasises involving local communities in tackling the problems they face, and creating successful partnerships between voluntary and statutory agencies at community level. In 2011, funding of €15.897m has been provided to the Family Support Agency for the programme. Funding for the programme in 2012 will be a matter for Government consideration in the context of the deliberations on the annual Estimates and budget.

In September, I established a taskforce to advise my Department regarding the necessary transition programme to establish the new child and family support agency. The taskforce has been asked, inter alia, to provide advice as to the appropriate service responsibilities of the new agency. In doing so, it will consider the services within the HSE that relate to children and family services and the services for which the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and its agencies have operational responsibility. No decisions have been made as yet with regard to future arrangements for the family resource centre programme but I can assure the Deputy that the Family Support Agency will be consulted as part of the deliberations of the taskforce on the service responsibilities of the new agency and any issues arising.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Only last week the Minister launched the annual report for 2010 on behalf of the family resource centre national forum. In the course of the address by the chairperson of the FRCNF, Mr. Packie Kelly spoke about loss of employment and reductions in household incomes being very isolating experiences for families. He further stated that Ireland's network of family resource centres has been actively building up a range of initiatives that enable families to stay in touch and feel supported through difficult periods. They have found that after-school clubs and arts programmes are excellent ways of reaching out to families who are not otherwise engaged in community activity. They outline an entire range of activities including homework clubs or parent and toddler groups. Mr. Kelly stated that some such interventions might seem trivial but that is not at all the case. From my knowledge and experience of the four family resource centres in my constituency, namely, Killeshandra, Cavan, Clones and Monaghan, I can state they do excellent and critically important work. It is very important that this work is allowed to continue and flourish, particularly in these more challenging and difficult times.

In the absence of the Minister's ability, pre-budget, to give me the assurances I would like and which family resource centres need, can she indicate how many times the taskforce on the child and family support agency, which was established in September, has met? Is it being resourced in regard to the work it must undertake? Will the taskforce examine issues of financial distress as being among the reasons children are placed in care? This is an extremely important issue. If families are in distress and that is the underlying reason children may not be able to continue in the home environment, this of itself requires an intervention by other Departments. That needs to be highlighted. If that is the case and the taskforce discovers and highlights it - I know of cases where that box would be ticked - will it be addressed accordingly? How long will the taskforce continue its deliberations? When does the Minister expect it to report?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's question relates to the Family Support Agency and family resource centres. The overall allocation to the FSA was €31.7 million in 2011, of which €16 million was allocated to the resource centre programme. Substantial funding is given to local centres and I wish to support them in whatever way possible, given budgetary constraints. The Deputy knows our budgetary constraints are significant.

The taskforce has met on a number of occasions. I will get back to the Deputy with the exact detail. The task force is working actively. A number of subgroups of the taskforce are working on various issues relating to governance, management and the transition from the HSE to the new agency. I expect to receive preliminary reports within the next couple of months. I am working towards the establishment of the new agency by January 2013. I hope that will happen.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I would like the taskforce to focus on examining issues of financial distress. Deputies from a variety of constituencies have spoken previously in the House about the continuing cutbacks, which are causing distress and breakdowns in family units. We are contributing to a deteriorating situation by moving children away from the family supports they have enjoyed in more ideal settings. Will the taskforce highlight the need for this problem to be addressed through social protection? In these difficult times, there is an urgent need to recognise that we may be contributing to the displacement of children from the situations that are best for their futures.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has raised the complex question of the reasons children come into care. It happens for a variety of reasons. Physical abuse is one of the reasons. Increasingly, neglect is the reason most children come into care. The financial pressures on families can have an impact on such neglect. Drink and drug issues are a significant factor in children coming into care at present. Issues relating to the use of alcohol in families are putting substantial pressure on family units and leading to children coming into care. It is clear that financial pressures are contributing to this problem. The taskforce will examine the number of children who need care and attention. One of the particular aspects it will address is the links to other agencies. It will examine the family support services in communities, including financial support services, fostering support services and parenting groups. The taskforce will examine the range of services that are available to families. Undoubtedly, the task force is aware of the financial strain on families, which is a key pressure at present. Its primary task will be to work out the transition arrangements in moving child and family services from the HSE to a new agency, rather than focusing on the details of the pressures on families. That will be a big challenge.