Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support an organisation (details supplied). [43086/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Family Support Agency funds the Scheme of Grants to voluntary and community organisations providing marriage, relationship, child and bereavement counselling services. The organisation referred to by the Deputy receives funding under the counselling grants scheme. This year, funding of over €11 million is being granted to some 600 counselling organisations.

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.