Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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110. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the South West Kerry Family Resource Centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2635/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 109 communities supported through the Family Resource Centre Programme which is funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Family Resource Centre Programme is a national programme with its own dedicated budget. Tusla provides core funding to Family Resource Centres to cover the employment of two to three members of staff and partial overhead costs. In 2015, Tusla provided €13.09m in funding for the Family Resource Centre Programme.

Family Resource Centres (FRCs) are front-line services rooted in the communities they serve. Acting as a focal point within their communities, Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their communities. While Family Resource Centres operate an open-door policy and provide many services and development opportunities at a universal level, they also proactively target specific cohorts within their communities.

In 2015, the South West Kerry Family Resource Centre received €94,636 in funding from Tusla under the Family Resource Centre programme. This included the salary for a full time co-ordinator, a full time administrator and partial overheads.

The Centre also received a counselling grant of €5,200 from Tusla in 2015.

As the Deputy will be aware, I announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for this year. Tusla has available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015.

The increase in funding for 2016 significantly strengthens Tusla's base funding level and gives the Agency greater capacity to respond to identified demand in 2016.