Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a family resource centre was promised for the Ballinfoyle area of County Galway; if this remains the intention; and if it will be in the 2009 Estimates. [47475/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is committed to supporting families and values the role that the Family Resource Centres play in communities all over the country. Funding from the Family Support Agency helps with staffing and equipping these centres. By the end of 2008, the number of Family Resource Centres will have expanded from an original 10 to 107 nationwide. The funding for the Programme increased from €317,000 in 1994 to nearly €19 million in 2008. In the context of the National Development Plan, it was intended to expand the number of Family Resource Centres by up to 6 centres this year and to provide some existing ones with additional staff. The organisation referred to by the Deputy is one of the projects that have applied for inclusion in the Family Resource Centre Programme and that meet the criteria.

However, as part of the Government's collective approach to controlling short-term expenditure in the interests of Ireland's future prosperity, with the exception of two new FRCs, one in Killeshandra, Co. Cavan and one in Duiska, Galway City, no other Family Resource Centres will open in 2008 or 2009. It will also not be possible to increase the staffing complement of the existing centres. Government support for family services will however remain strong. Last year, additional staff were funded for 40 Family Resource Centres. Also in June I approved counselling grants of almost €11 million to 600 voluntary and community groups supporting families nationwide.