Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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426. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he might be in a position to establish new family resource centres in areas with a high need. [6603/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Thank you deputy for asking this question.

You may be aware, the commissioning of Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla’s Area Managers engage in the commissioning process and participate in meetings and discussions with community and voluntary bodies regularly. Tusla aims to utilise the total resources available in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way in order to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.

Local Tusla area managers and the Tusla commissioning team can be contacted in relation to Family Resource Centres' planned service delivery and any potential to develop services.

Currently there is no expansion plan to increase the number of Family Resource Centres. The Tusla National Commissioning Office have received several requests to become members of the FRC Programme from organisations in various parts of the country. In the event the FRC Programme is expanded, a transparent process will be established to ensure all applications are treated equitably. The Tusla Area Commissioning Plan will be a critical contribution to the decision-making process. If a new process is established, it will be published, and local Tusla Managers will be made aware of the process.

In addition, my Department in conjunction with the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service has recently concluded and published a spending review of Tusla-funded Family Support Services. The Review is a comprehensive analysis, focusing on the Family Support Services policy landscape, commissioning and governance, and trends in Family Support Services expenditure in recent years. The Review will be key to next steps in the area of Family Support Services including the FRC programme.