David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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9. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase funding for family resource centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39082/24]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree with me that family resource centres provide an important set of services in areas and communities that need those services? What are his plans to further increase funding to family resource centres across the country as a result of the budget yesterday, in particular?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am a strong supporter of the work of family resource centres. In recent weeks, I have visited the centre in my own community in Mountview, as well as centres in Waterford, Kilkenny, Limerick and Clare, and have seen the amazing work they do.

I am pleased to say that in the budget announced yesterday I secured an additional €800,000 for the family resource centre programme. That will allow five new family resource centres to be opened around the country next year. That allocation is in addition to the funding equalisation programme I operated in April; through that I raised the core funding for all family resource centres to €160,000. Some were below €100,000 but all family resource centres now get, at minimum, €160,000. Their desire is for a minimum of €240,000 and I want to work to that but I explained to the sector at the time I was undertaking a step-by-step process. I want to grow the network and ensure the existing network is sustainable. We took a good step towards sustainability in April. We worked on that in the Department outside of the budget and we brought that forward.

We saw a pay award in October of last year under the WRC for section 39 and 56 organisations, of which family resource centres are part. There is a pay negotiation ongoing involving those same organisations. If there is agreement on that, staff in family resource centres will benefit.

It is a dual role. We want to grow the number of family resource centres around the country and increase the sustainability of all of them. Through the budget yesterday and the funding equalisation announcement earlier in the year, I have taken a substantial step towards achieving both.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the Minister's commitment but, as he said himself, the family resource centres were looking for €8 million nationally, or €240,000 each, in core funding. Certainly, any help is a help. Will the Minister outline the process involved in deciding where the new family resource centres will be situated? Who will make that decision? Do communities apply in some shape or form? In Youghal, County Cork, in my constituency, they have been crying out for one for an awful long time.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Deputy has flagged the needs of Youghal with me on a number of occasions. Our Department, working with Tusla, will set out an application process based on metrics. It will look at the need in a particular area, the demographics that are served and detailed CSO-type information.

From my constituency and other areas, I know the significant benefits family resource centres can bring to a particular area and the additional support they bring to children and families in terms of early years and therapy services. Last year, we funded the roll-out of a therapist lead in eight pilot sites all over the country and this is delivering real benefits. This is another form of additional support we would like to roll out further. There will be an application process that will be very much metrics-based and I have no doubt that organisations around the country will come together and make applications on behalf of their community.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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How soon will this application be available so communities will be able to apply? Who will be entitled to make an application? Where will it come from? Will it be local authorities or local community groups? Who will be qualified to apply for inclusion in the new programme to expand the network?

If a family resource centre is in trouble financially during the year and has to cut back on services, is there a mechanism whereby it can get extra funding from the Department or Tusla to keep going? Is there any mechanism to draw down emergency funding or is this something the Minister would consider?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On the latter point, what I always say is that if a family resource centre is in difficulty, the staff should talk to their local Tusla point of contact. Tusla sees the family resource centres as very much the front line of its public engagement and we want to support them. There is no specific hardship fund but Tusla will usually work to find a solution for family resource centre, if necessary.

I will urge my Department to work with Tusla to make provision for the application process as quickly as possible. We have not had a new round of family resource centres since 2018 so I was really pleased to announce that yesterday and to push that forward. We will make information about how an application can be evidenced and who can bring forward that information as quickly as possible and I will make sure the Deputy is informed once we have that information.