Written answers
Tuesday, 4 July 2023
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Family Resource Centres
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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490. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the long-standing arrangement remains that the national FRC programme budget is a distinct budget within the Tusla Vote, with appropriate Departmental oversight, aligned to the unique policy orientation of the programme as a national community development and social inclusion programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32179/23]
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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491. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department retains oversight of the national FRC programme budget and its unique policy purpose, whilst devolving the operational administration of the programme to Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32180/23]
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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492. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a shared understanding between his Department and Tusla in respect of the difference between the national FRC programme budget inherited by Tusla from the former Family Support Agency versus additional funding Tusla may allocate to FRCs for specified service provision aligned to the statutory objectives of Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32181/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 490, 491 and 492 together.
On 01 January 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, was established as an independent body to improve wellbeing and outcomes for children and to support families Tusla has other objectives and functions in addition to those.
As Minister, I retain oversight of the budget of Tusla. One of Tusla's many competing priorities is the management of the Family Resource Centre Programme. Tusla Commissioning develops the administration and operational processes for that programme and is responsible for the dissemination of the related funding.
The Family Resource Centre Programme currently provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme. Funding to the program in 2018 was approximately €17.5 million. It has risen to over €21 million in 2023.
In 2014, the Family Resource Centre Programme was incorporated into Tusla. Previous to that, the core budget for FRCs came from the Family Support Agency which ceased to exist in 2014.
The funding from my Department represents only a portion of the total funding available to Family Resource Centres. Family Resource Centres draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments and agencies. Tusla National Office may receive additional once-off funding from DCEDIY for example Dormant Account Funding for the Family Resource Centres. The allocation of funding to services is an operational matter for Tusla.
Independent of the Programme, Tusla Local Offices may also award different amounts of funding to individual Family Resource Centres to carry out specific pieces of work. Tusla Commissioning sign a yearly contract with each Family Resource Centre. A Schedule of Service which outlines the work to be carried out for each specific piece of funding must be completed and uploaded to the Tusla Portal which then once reviewed will be accepted by Tusla Commissioning. A monitoring and review meeting is carried out to ensure governance and compliance also to offer support and information.
Family Resource Centres are a national cross-agency programme. They are independent limited companies who offer community-based family support in defined catchment areas. Family Resource Centres promote participation, equality, awareness raising, early intervention, strengths, and advocacy across a range of issues for people and on behalf of people.
A spending review of Tusla-funded family support services is ongoing. A summary of the review was published in December 2022 and two detailed chapters are expected in the near future. This review will help inform future priorities for investment in such family support services.
I will continue to engage with Tusla, and Family Resource Centres on the key issues of their funding and sustainability of the valuable services they provide to our communities. I will consider Tusla's provision of family support services in the Performance Framework for Tusla for the period 2024-2026. The Performance Framework allows me to set prioritisation parameters for Tusla over a three year period and ensures Tusla are aligned with the strategic direction I have set for them.
In the meantime, Tusla continues to work with community-based family support organisations to best meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and communities.
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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493. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the long-standing arrangement that decisions on expanding the national FRC programme either in respect of funding for existing FRCs, which is a priority, or admission of additional FRCs, remains with the Minister whereas the administration of the decision on the most appropriate geographical location of any new FRC is administered by Tusla, based on an assessment that is carried out in partnership with communities seeking an FRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32182/23]
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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494. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has departed from the long-established position of providing Ministerial direction to Tusla in respect of specifying the total level of funding of the national FRC programme and direction on the admission of new FRCs to the programme; if he is aware that such position differs to that communicated by Tusla recently when a community group received funding from Tusla but was advised formally by Tusla that this funding did not form part of the national FRC programme budget and that the group could not form an FRC as the decision to expand the national FRC programme was a matter for the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32183/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together.
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.
I continue to provide Ministerial direction to Tusla in respect of specifying the total level of funding of the Family Resource Centre programme and direction on the admission of new Family Resource Centres to the programme. I regularly attend many Family Resource Centre events, including their National Forum's recent anniversary celebration.
As the Deputy has indicated the community group referenced in the question received funding from Tusla to become a Family Support Service and not a Family Resource Centre under the programme.
Tusla’s Area Managers engage in the commissioning process and participate in meetings and discussions with community NGOs. 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 potential to develop services.
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. 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 Family Resource Centre Programme or to establish new funding schemes for the Programme in the immediate future.
However, as you may already be aware, a spending review of Tusla-funded family support services is being finalised. A summary of the review was published in December 2022 and two detailed chapters are expected in the near future. This review will help inform future priorities for investment in the programme.
I will continue to engage with Tusla, and Family Resource Centres on the key issue of their funding and sustainability of the valuable services they provide to our communities. I will consider Tusla's provision of Family Support Services in my Performance Framework for Tusla for the period 2024-2026.
In the meantime, Tusla continues to work with community-based family support organisations to best meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and communities.
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