David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 403: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has had contact with any group that supports fathers; the support that his Department makes available to any such group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30776/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In the current year, I have met with one group representing unmarried fathers. The group in question, the Unmarried Fathers of Ireland, received funding in 2005 from the Agency. The Unmarried Fathers of Ireland received a grant of €3,000 towards the provision of counselling. Another group, the Unmarried and Separated Fathers of Ireland, received a grant for €4,000 towards the provision of marriage and relationship counselling. Also in 2005, Parental Equality received the third instalment of a three year budget allocation of €20,000 per year for the provision of a parenting course.

The Unmarried and Separated Fathers of Ireland has corresponded with me this year on a number of issues of relevance to their members and has also been advised by my officials that core funding for voluntary groups is not available from my Department. None of the groups mentioned above has applied for funding under the 2006 grants scheme administered by the Family Support Agency.

Two other fathers' groups were funded by my Department in 2005 under the Family Services Project, which aims to provide a high quality information service on the range of supports available to families from state agencies and from the voluntary and community sector with a particular emphasis on the services available locally. The Tallaght Flexible Unit received €15,000 in February 2005 for a programme aimed at improving unemployed men's role as fathers and the Vulnerable Fathers Support Group in Sligo received €2,310 in September 2005.