Family Resource Centres receive €2.1 million in additional funding

Family Resource Centres around the country are receiving an additional €2.120 million in funding to fund small works and the upgrading of equipment.

The ‘one-off’ funding is being provided through Tusla – Child and Family Agency and according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr Katherine Zappone shows that support for such centres will be a priority for the year ahead.

Family Resource Centres receive €2.1 million in additional funding

Independent Minister and Dublin South West TD Katherine Zappone with Carmel Connolly, Chair of the Board, St Kevin’s Family Resource Centre, Kilnamanagh, Dublin

Speaking today, Minister Zappone said “In every part of the country I have seen at first hand the work of Family Resource Centres. These community hubs not only offer a chance to socialise they are also provide vital information and supports, often when a person is going through a time of crisis.

This work deserves Government support. Now I am delighted to join with Tusla to honour a commitment to immediately increase funding. The small grants now being announced are just the beginning. In the coming 12 months we will be delivering in total an extra €5m to Resource Centres.”

Fred McBride, Chief Executive of Tusla, said “Family Resource Centres are a vital part of Tusla’s service delivery. Evidence demonstrates that local wrap-around support is the best way to create and sustain resilient children, families and communities.

Family Resource Centres are rooted in and part of the local community and as a result they can identify need in families and communities early and offer or signpost appropriate interventions and supports. The increase in funding of Tusla’s Family Resource Centre Programme is an important part of our work to prioritise early intervention across our services.”

In addition to the €2.120 million being transferred this week, additional funding of up to €10,000 will be made available to each of the existing 109 Family Resource Centres for operational requirements. €1.76 million has also been allocated to establish 11 new Family Resource Centres in 2018. A total of €16.37 million will be invested next year by Tusla into its Family Resource Centre Programme, an increase of 21% compared to 2017.

Funding being provided to Family Resource Centres – by county

 

County Funding amount
Carlow €39,800
Cavan €45,476
Clare €65,248
Cork €140,792
Donegal €149,316
Dublin €434,817
Galway €151,363
Kerry €233,539
Kildare €27,979
Kilkenny €91,055
Laois €10,599
Leitrim €29,682
Limerick €77,389
Longford €49,998
Louth €17,659
Mayo €96,918
Meath €50,742
Monaghan €78,657
Offaly €34,363
Roscommon €11,448
Sligo €44,976
Tipperary €57,148
Waterford €46,411
Westmeath €22,083
Wexford €109,956
Wicklow €1,804
TOTAL €2,119,218

About the Family Resource Centre Programme
The Family Resource Centre Programme is a national programme core funded by Tusla, which provides funding to over 109 Family Resource Centres in Ireland.

A full list of all Family Resource Centres broken down by county is available on the Tusla website.

The principal objective of the Family Resource Centre Programme is to combat disadvantage and to strengthen and empower children, families and communities. A Family Resource Centre is a service which provides supports to families such as social work, counselling, education and training courses and youth groups.

Each Family Resource Centre operates autonomously working inclusively with individuals, families, communities, and both statutory and non-statutory agencies.

There are currently 109 communities supported through the Family Resource Centre Programme, covering a catchment area of nearly one million people.

Applications for an additional 11 Family Resource Centres are open until Wednesday 20th December 2017. The application form is available on the Tusla website at http://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/family-resource-centres/application-entry-form/.

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