Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the service provided by a company (details supplied) through the family resource centres, if she has conducted a value for money review of this funding; if, in view of the targeted nature of the service which is delivered by volunteers, she will ring-fence the funding for this service in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39987/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Family Support Agency funds the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme and the Scheme of Grants to voluntary and community organisations providing marriage, relationship, child and bereavement counselling services. The company referred to by the Deputy receives funding under the counselling grants scheme and I am aware of the services that they provide. This year, funding of over €11 million is being granted to some 600 counselling organisations. Petrus Consulting Limited carried out a review of the counselling grants scheme which was published in early 2007.

The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes made a range of recommendations relating to the Department of Social and Family Affairs including recommendations relating to the Family Support Agency and its programmes. The Department will consider, as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010, the Report's recommendations and decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.