Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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690. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reasons for the proposed closure of a centre (details supplied); and if she or officials in her Department will agree to meet with the board of the centre to discuss the proposed closure. [19503/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Family Resource Centre (FRC) referred to by the Deputy has been in receipt of funding under the Family Resource Centre Programme which is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Centre was in receipt of funding from November 2005 to March 2016.

In December 2014, Tusla met members of the Centre's Voluntary Board of Management regarding the provision of funding to the Centre under the Family Resource Centre Programme.

Tusla was concerned that despite three recruitment processes, the Centre had been without a full-time Co-Ordinator since March 2013. This had clearly affected the management and operation of the Centre in terms of services to children and families in the community and the continued development of the FRC in line with Tusla’s priorities. While Tusla acknowledged the work of Centre, it was decided that the situation could not continue as the centre was clearly not operating to its full potential.

Tusla fully recognises the need for community-based family support services serving the communities of Sneem, Tahilla, Castlecove, Kilgarvan and Kenmare. To that end, Tusla worked with these communities to ensure that the funding currently available under the Family Resource Centre Programme is directed to the provision of a community-based service, one that is operating to its full potential and which best supports and promotes the development, welfare and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families.

Consistent with this approach, it was decided to establish a new Family Resource Centre in Kenmare to serve the communities of Sneem, Tahilla, Castlecove, Kilgarvan and Kenmare.

Tusla is working with the Kenmare Committee to set up a Voluntary Board of Management for the new FRC. As soon as the Voluntary Board of Management is established and a legal entity is formed, a co-ordinator will be recruited for the Centre.

The Kenmare committee agreed to accept the two employees who were previously employed in the Centre referred to by the Deputy. These employees were informed in writing by the Kenmare Committee that it was in the process of setting up an FRC in Kenmare and this Centre will be their new employer when established. Kenmare FRC are currently seeking premises to establish the centre. On 1 April, 2016, the Kenmare Committee assumed the duties of employer for the two employees, on an interim basis, until the Kenmare FRC is formally established.

There has been no interruption to services in the Sneem area. The funding allocation for the Centre in question will be transferred to Kenmare. A budget of approximately €114,000 will be allocated to Kenmare FRC in 2016.

Tusla, as a statutory funder of Family Resource Centres, has advised that it will be meeting the Board and representatives of the Centre on July 6th, 2016 to discuss the closure.