Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of funding for a project (details supplied) in County Laois for 2013 and 2014, and the estimate for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19735/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency funds the project referred to by the Deputy in Co. Laois. The service in question received €73,164 in 2013, €67,400 in 2014 and has been allocated €67,000 this year.

The service involves the provision of domestic violence supports, including information, advocacy and counselling services to women experiencing or who have experienced domestic violence. The work of this project and other community-based Domestic Violence services is recognised and valued.

Tusla has recently completed an initial review of domestic violence and sexual violence services in order to identify strategic priorities and set out a roadmap for sexual violence and domestic violence services. There is for the first time a consolidated national budget for these services and an opportunity for more co-ordinated and equitable provision of sexual and domestic violence services across the country.

Future planning for Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence services will seek to address gaps, avoid duplication and support effective delivery of frontline services nationally.

Services responding to Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence are being given high priority by Government, and Tusla will work closely with service providers giving particular priority to supporting front line services.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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274. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19752/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The group referred to by the Deputy is a specialist support agency which was contracted by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to provide support, advice and training for Family Resource Centres across the area of disability awareness and staff/volunteer training in personal advocacy for people with disabilities. The organisation is funded by Tusla up to the end of June 2015. I am assured by Tusla that existing Family Resource Centres have the capacity to deliver the services in question to an appropriate level.

In seeking to improve outcomes and wellbeing for children and young people, Tusla must ensure that it makes the most efficient use of its resources in a way that is efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable. Tusla is giving priority in 2015 to the protection of front-line services and those which are best aligned to the priority outcomes as set out in their Corporate Plan. Tusla values the work of the agency in question and recognises the impact of its work across the Family Resource Centre Programme. However, having regard to Tusla's priorities and the overall level of resource available, it is necessary to focus on those services operating more directly at the front line.

Tusla is in receipt of Exchequer funding of €643m in 2015 which represents an increase of €34m or 5.3% over 2014. The level of funding provided represents tangible evidence of this Government's commitment to improving services for the most disadvantaged children and families.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will intervene with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in regard to proposals to discontinue Sneem Family Resource Centre in County Kerry and the non-viable amalgamation proposal, due to geographical and distance factors, which will pose huge inconvenience for clients of the centre and diminish the role of local officers and volunteers to the centre, who are providing a quality service locally down through the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19808/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Sneem Family Resource Centre has been in receipt of funding since 2005 under the Family Resource Centre Programme which is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Centre's budget for 2015 is set at €90,453.

I am advised by Tusla that representatives met with members of the Voluntary Board of Management last December regarding the provision of funding to the Centre under the Family Resource Centre Programme. The Centre has been without a full-time Co-ordinator since March 2013 despite three recruitment processes. This has impacted on the management and operation of the Centre in terms of services to children and families in the community and the continued development of the Centre in line with Tusla's priorities.

Tusla fully recognises the need for community-based family support services serving the communities of Sneem, Tahilla, Castlecove, Kilgarvan and Kenmare. Tusla will continue to work with the Centre and representatives from these communities to ensure that the funding currently available under the Family Resource Centre Programme is directed to a community-based service that is operating to its full potential and best supports and promotes the development, welfare and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families, in line with Tusla's priorities.

In this regard, a decision has been made to establish a new Family Resource Centre based in Kenmare to serve the communities of Sneem, Tahilla, Castlecove, Kilgarvan and Kenmare. A new legal entity will be formed. The current Voluntary Board of Management of Kenmare Community Care will be re-constituted. It will initially include community representatives from Sneem Family Resource Centre and Kenmare Community Care.

In time, it is proposed that the new Voluntary Board of Management will also include community representatives from Tahilla, Castlecove and Kilgarvan. The detail of this will be a matter for discussion and agreement under an agreed process which is being managed and facilitated by Tusla. The first meeting in this agreed process is to take place later this month.

Tusla has advised that Sneem Family Resource Centre will continue to administer its Programme funding until the process is completed and will continue to receive Tusla funding for counselling services during the process.