Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

280. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that necessary financial resources are allocated for 2025 to establish new family resource centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38478/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme through Tusla, which has advised my Department that the current level of funding is to sustain existing services operating in the FRC Programme.

The Deputy will be aware that at the end of April I brought forward a funding equalisation scheme for existing FRCs, which will see all FRC Programme members receive additional core funding in 2024 and ensure that minimum core funding for all FRCs is at least €160,000 from 2025 onwards. This funding will support the pivotal role FRCs play in so many communities across the country by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs.

At this time, my Department is engaging with Tusla in relation to the 2025 estimates. Any potential changes in funding are considered as part of the annual Budgetary process, which represents a significant number of competing priorities in a challenging fiscal space. Notwithstanding this, it is my intention to seek funding in Budget 2025 to explore options to support and increase the number of FRCs. Any expansion of the Programme will however, be dependent on the success of my Budget negotiations.