Written answers

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Family Support Services

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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1343. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the methodology and criteria that her Department and Tusla used to select the locations of the 11 new family resource centres; the specific definitions and sources of data used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16150/18]

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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1344. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department used the Pobal HP deprivation index to determine the locations of the new family resource centres; and if not, the reason therefore. [16151/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1343 and 1344 together.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme.

A high number of applications - 47 in total - were submitted to Tusla, who carried out an assessment process. The assessment included consultation with Tusla staff in operational and regional roles, and with Children and Young People's Services Committees around the country.

The methodology and criteria considered in selecting the locations of the 11 new family resource centres 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(s) applying to the Programme; their objectives, targets, and current relationships with other organisations; and the inclusion of available research, community projects, and needs assessments with the application. 

While the deprivation index referred to by the Deputy is specific to a particular organisation, Tusla has advised that deprivation is factored into its commissioning process. The Resource Allocation Profile model, which is used by Tusla, utilises a deprivation-related algorithm to weight various agreed criteria. The model is used to inform the allocation of total available development resources within Tusla, in conjunction with other criteria such as that provided above.

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.

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