Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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781. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which a community group can establish a family resource centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66036/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme and therefore the commissioning of new centres is an operational matter for Tusla.

A central feature of the Family Resource Centre Programme is the involvement of local people in identifying needs and developing needs-led responses. This often takes the form of community groups supporting the development of an organisation that can provide services similar to that of FRC Programme members.

As part of the most recent Tusla application process which took place in mid-2025, the below criteria were established to determine eligibility to join the Programme:

• Willingness to engage with Tusla on funding for children and family support services.
• It is desirable for a Board of Management to be in place (as opposed to a partnership company). Where a Board of Management is not in place, successful organisations will be timebound to form their own Board of Management with the capacity to develop services.
• Have existing facilities suitable to deliver the programme.
• Demonstrate the ability to deliver outcomes driven service based on evidence based or evidence informed delivery model.
• The absence of a sustainable alternative service providing a range of services similar to those provided by existing FRCs.
• CYPSC Plan and/or Tusla Area Commissioning Plan, will be considered where in place.
• Evidence of a large population or socio-economically disadvantaged population currently without a sufficient service to meet needs.
• Evidence of a lack of locally available services to provide a range of children and family supports reflective of the local community.