Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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560. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received a request to provide funding for the provision of a family resource centre for Longford town in 2018 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14229/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I can confirm that I received a representation regarding the issue referred to by the Deputy on 15th March, 2018.

In Budget 2018, I was pleased to secure an additional €3.0m for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to support the Family Resource Centre Programme. This increased Tusla's budget for the Programme to just under €16.5m. The additional funding provided is being used to support existing Family Resource Centres, and has also provided for expansion of the Programme with the addition of eleven new centres.

Following a public application process, Tusla recently announced the eleven centres which are being included in the Programme this year.

I understand from Tusla that the applications to join the Family Resource Centre Programme were of a very high standard. The criteria considered included the size and make-up of the 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 centre. The criteria also considered the structure of the organisation applying to the programme; its objectives, targets, and current relationships with other organisations; and the inclusion of available research, community projects, and needs assessments with the application.

Tusla received a high number of applications - 47 in total - for inclusion in the programme. One of the applications was for a centre in the Longford area. Tusla was faced with a difficult decision making process in securing eleven new centres for inclusion in the programme.

It is important that the needs of children and families are met in the best way possible, particularly in areas of disadvantage. I will continue to support the work of Family Resource Centres and family support services throughout the country.