Family resource centres benefit from €1.5m fund

FAMILY resource centres (FRCs) in Tallaght and Ballyfermot are among those included in a €1.5m fund to benefit 54 FRCs around the country.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman announced €1.5m additional funding with a new core funding level of €160,000 for FRCs.

The purpose of the allocation is to bring the core funding of these FRCs to a new base level of €160,000 in 2025 and provide additional funding to the lowest-funded FRCs before the end of this year.

Among those included in the fund are South Dublin County Partnership (€53,035), Ballyfermot Resource Centre Ltd (€35,916), St Matthews FRC Ballyfermot (€34,233), Ballyboden Children’s Centre (€27,629), and Killinarden Resource Centre (€11,100).

O’Gorman said the increases are on top of the WRC agreement reached in October 2023 and “from next year onwards no FRC will receive less than €160,000 in core funding from my Department.”

“This allocation will combat the increased costs some FRCs have faced and aid in expanding service provision. Any future increases to core funding across the programme will build off this new level. The increases will be paid to the centres by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.”

Kate Duggan, the CEO of Tusla said: “Tusla welcome today’s announcement by Minister O’Gorman of additional funding for Family Resource Centres, ensuring a new core funding level of €160,000. This investment will strengthen services provided in communities right across the country, positively impacting the children, young people, individuals, and families that live in these communities and benefit from Family Resources Services.”