Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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547. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of community services resource centre programme applications received; when it is expected a decision will be made; the decision making process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2914/18]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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548. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications received from Galway city and county in relation to the community services resource centre programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2915/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre Programme. In 2018, my Department has provided an additional €3.0m to Tusla to support the Family Resource Centre Programme. The additional funding provided will support existing Family Resource Centres, and will also allow for the expansion of the programme. Eleven new centres will be added to the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2018. My Department also provided exceptional, once-off funding of over €2.0m for Family Resource Centres in the form of assistance with small works in 2017.

Tusla has advised that the criteria for new entrants seeking to join the programme includes the size and make-up of the relevant geographical area, the social and economic conditions of the specified area, and the overall population breakdown of the area that would be serviced by the proposed Family Resource Centre. The criteria will also take into consideration the structure of the group applying to the programme, their objectives, targets, and current relationships with other organisations, and the inclusion of available research, community projects, and needs assessments will also be considered.

The closing date for new entrants to the Family Resource Centre Programme was the 20th December, 2017. Tusla has advised that it has  received a total of 43 applications, two of which were from organisations based in Galway city and county. Following the assessment of all applications, a decision will be made on successful entrants to the programme, which is due to be announced shortly.

I am pleased to be in a position to support the work of Family Resource Centres through the targeting of additional resources to services that will impact positively on vulnerable children and families.