Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Family Resource Centres National Forum held its pre-budget briefing yesterday. I met with Louise from the Boyle Family Resource Centre at the briefing. From visiting the latter centre and the centres in Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen and Roscommon, I am aware that they provide so many supports and services that otherwise would not exist in those communities. These services include preschool and after-school care, education courses and parenting supports, and many are now providing food parcels as well. They need guaranteed core annual funding that meets their costs. They have set that at €240,000 each. The Minister will agree that this is money well spent in our communities. Will the Minister seek for this funding to be enhanced and that core funding be increased moving forward?

See this speech in context