Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the supports she is providing for family resource centres. [49984/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that my Department allocates core funding for the Family Resource Centre Programme through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla administers the Family Resource Centre Programme, which supports members throughout the country. Core funding principally covers the salaries of staff, along with some operational costs. Such funding supports the pivotal role Family Resource Centres play in so many communities across the country, where they provide a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs.

In addition to core funding, it is important to note that Family Resource Centres may draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments, agencies and private sources. Such funding can allow the centres to extend the scope and reach of their services.

A funding equalisation scheme for the Family Resource Centre Programme was initiated by my Department in 2024. The scheme ensures that all Programme members receive minimum core funding of at least €160,000 from 2025 onwards.

In recognition of the importance of the Family Resource Centre Programme, my Department received additional funding, as part of Budget 2025, to allow the Programme to grow from 121 members to 126 members in 2025. This is the first expansion of the Programme since 2018. The five new members of the Programme were announced by me on 29th August. They are based in Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth and Monaghan. A comprehensive national application and assessment process was undertaken, which was led by Tusla and independently chaired by a representative of the University of Limerick. All applications were reviewed and scored against the clearly defined and published criteria, including population need, level of deprivation, child population data, existing service provision and existing service gaps. Decisions on the successful services were made by the assessment panel. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to the successful applicants.

There is a Programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres, and this is something I will engage on over the lifetime of this Government.

The Family Resource Centre Programme continually demonstrates its capacity to adapt to changes in demands and improvements in standards. In 2024 my Department announced that it was to fund Clinical and Therapeutic Lead positions in a number of Family Resource Centres around the country. We know that the needs of communities can be complex, challenging and ever-changing. The Clinical Lead posts are, I understand, positively impacting on the ability of the centres to offer additional supports, and a particular focus is on the development of quality services that are adapted to meet presenting and emerging needs.

I have witnessed first-hand the impacts that Family Resource Centres have on the communities that they serve, engaging with vulnerable families, offering services to individuals across the whole life cycle from early years to senior citizens and, crucially, fostering a positive and inclusive community spirit. High levels of activity indicate the scale, value for money, and potential of the national Programme. Many services are delivered at no-cost or at low-cost, to families who otherwise might not be able to access them.

The addition of five new services to the Programme, and the Programme for Government commitment to its expansion, will see more people benefitting from the many positives that Family Resource Centres can bring to communities.