Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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469. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of family resource centres in the State; his plans to expand the number of FRCs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11086/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The commissioning of FRCs is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

You may be interested to know, Tusla administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme which provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country.

Tusla’s Area Managers engage in the commissioning process and participate in meetings and discussions with community and voluntary agencies. 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 FRCs' planned service delivery and potential to develop services.

Organisations that wish to join the Programme are advised to contact Tusla in the first instance, with regard to the potential next steps. Currently, there are no plans to expand the FRC Programme or to establish new funding schemes for the Programme in the immediate future.

I recognise and value the very positive impact of the work of the Family Resource Centres in supporting families and local communities. The Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their community. This universal accessibility allows for early identification of need, provision of appropriate interventions, and timely referrals to appropriate services for more intensive and targeted work as required