Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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93. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is concerned about the lack of a family resource centre in Dungarvan and that no service is available in west Waterford, south Tipperary or east Cork. [32422/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that there are no members of the FRC Programme based in the town of Dungarvan.

While the Family Resource Centre Programme is a community development programme that is financially supported by many State agencies in a partnership approach, I feel it is important to acknowledge that there many initiatives that operate in communities, delivering services comparable to those delivered by Family Resource Centres. Some of these services are delivered by State agencies, whereas others are delivered by Community and Voluntary providers.

As the Deputy may know applications for Family Resource Programme membership were open from 1st May to 30th May, 2025. Funding secured as part of Budget 2025 will allow for membership of the Programme to increase from 121 members to 126 members in 2025, in line with a Government commitment to expand the Programme. The application and selection processes are being managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla has responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme. The selection process is merit-based using the published criteria, and this will ensure all applications are treated equitably against the criteria established by Tusla. The successful applicants will be allocated core funding of €160,000 each for each full year of operation.

I understand applications were received from across the country including the West Waterford area and these will be assessed against the published criteria along with the other 48 applications received as part of the recent call for applications. Of course, I wish all applicants well.

I noted, in a previous Parliamentary Question response to the Deputy, that there is an existing Barnardos Centre located in Dungarvan, which provides a range of intensive family supports to the community. Other Barnardos services include parenting programs, sensory attachment work, loss and bereavement work, individual work with children and young people, and support for children and families of minority groups.