Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the funding difficulties being faced by a centre (details supplied) and the difficulties the centre faces in 2018 operating on its budget; and if she will request Tusla to re-examine the funding allocation for the centre for 2018 and 2019 with a view to increasing the funding level to a more appropriate sum at the top end of the allocation scale for example above €130,000 per annum. [2278/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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There are over 100 Family Resource Centres currently in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.  Tusla provides funding to the centres under an annual Service Level Agreement. This funding is provided by way of a contribution towards the running costs of the centres. The 2017 Tusla allocation to Family Resource Centres was €13.512m. 

In 2015, the centre referred to by the Deputy received funding from Tusla of over €83,000, which was increased by some €3,000 in 2016. At the end of 2016, the Centre also received a once-off payment to offset financial difficulties, and a once-off grant of €30,000 for the upgrade of equipment and infrastructure.

Tusla provided core funding of over €86,000 to the centre in 2017. In addition to this, the centre in question received €8,000 for counselling and play therapy services, over €18,000 in once-off funding for small works, and €20,000 in exceptional once-off additional funding. In total, Tusla provided over €132,000 in funding to the centre referred to by the Deputy in 2017.

Tusla fully appreciates the role that Family Resource Centres play in offering early intervention support to families in difficulty. Tusla staff have met with representatives of the centre in question in recent weeks regarding their concerns.

In 2018, Family Resource Centres are being asked to work with their local Tusla office to identify services needed in their community and up to €10,000 will be available to each Family Resource Centre, subject to approval of their proposal. Tusla will continue to work with Family Resource Centres throughout the country, and will discuss service needs and funding resources with centres, where appropriate.