Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency allocates funding to a wide range of programmes in the area of family support. Family Support is defined as a style of work that strengthens positive informal social networks through community-based programmes and services. The main focus of these services is on early intervention, which aims to promote the health, wellbeing and rights of all children, young people and their families. 

Tusla receives annual funding from the Exchequer under my Department's Vote (Vote 40). The following table outlines the gross core budgetary allocation to Tusla from my Department for the years 2014 to 2019.

Each year after the budget announcement, I issue Tusla with its annual Performance Statement in line with the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. The Performance Statement outlines Tusla's overall gross and net current and capital expenditure budget for the following year under the broad headings of pay, non-pay and capital  expenditure. In response to the Performance Statement, Tusla prepares a Business Plan, which is submitted to me for consideration.

The precise level of funding to be allocated to specific services including family support services is considered by Tusla, in preparing its Business Plan, having regard to its statutory remit and taking account of the totality of funding available each year. 

I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to respond to you with further details regarding its family support services funding and process.