By Kim O'Leary
Co Kildare is set to get two new family resource centres after applications for the new facilities were granted and they will be supported through funding provided by Tusla as part of Budget 2018.
Athy and Teach Dara are among a total of 11 successful applicants nationwide to be accorded new facilities, with 47 areas in total applying for new family resource centres which is expected to grow from 109 to 120 with the addition of the new centres later this year. A Family Resource Centre 9FRC) is a service which provides supports to families such as family support work, counselling, education and training courses, and youth groups.
Deputy Martin Heydon has welcomed confirmation from Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone that two new Family Resource Centres have been approved for Co. Kildare. The confirmation came this morning as the Minister announced 11 new Family Resource Centres around the Country.
He said: “I am delighted that the Minister has recognised the need in Kildare which I have highlighted with her many times and awarded two of the 11 new centres to Co. Kildare today. We have now doubled our representation to four with two very strong applications from Teach Dara in Kildare town and Athy Community and Family Centre now approved. I have raised the need for more Family Resource Centres in Kildare many times with the Minister. With our growing population and high youth population Kildare had fallen behind in terms of Family Resource Centres with only two in the County for our population of 220,000. Counties with much lower populations such as Kerry and Donegal had more centres with 9 and 12 respectively."
Deputy Heydon added: "I have worked with the managers and committees of both of these centres who already do great work in their local communities of Kildare town and Athy. With full Family Resource Centre status these two centres will now be able to offer more services, and build on their great suppor for the people of Kildare town and Athy. I am delighted for Sarah Shapespeare and her team at Teach Dara in Kildare town who have been operating as a family Resource Centre in all but name since their establishment. Similarly John Delaney and his committee at Athy Community and Family Centre provide great supports to families and children in Athy. They will now be able to build on this great work with formal recognition of their status."
“The 11 new centres were approved as part of Budget 2018 and Tusla opened the application process last year. It is a fitting testament to the teams in Athy & Kildare and to Kildare Childrens and Young Peoples Services Committee and all who have supported the applications that Kildare has both its applications approved today," Deputy Heydon added.
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, and Tusla’s Chief Operations Officer, Jim Gibson, today announced the locations of 11 new centres during a visit to the Hill Street Family Resource Centre in Dublin’s north inner city.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister Zappone said: “Family Resource Centres are the very hub of the communities which they serve – I have seen this at first hand in every part of the country. They provide a huge range of services by working with people from cradle to the grave. They also support those going through a difficult period in their lives including bereavement, unemployment and addiction."
She added:"The demand for new centres speaks for itself and underlines their important role. This year I am delighted to increase funding by 21% to €16.37 million for centres nationwide.”
Jim Gibson, Chief Operations Officer, Tusla said: “We’re delighted to announce the 11 new Family Resource Centres today. The expansion of our Family Resource Centre Programme will see 11 more communities supported through a range of community services including family support work, counselling, education and training courses, and youth groups. Family Resource Centres are rooted in and part of local communities and as a result they can identify need in families and communities early and offer appropriate interventions and supports. Tusla’s Family Resource Centre Programme is an important part of our work to prioritise early intervention across our services.”
The announcement is part of a range of initiatives announced for Family Resource Centres as part of Budget 2018. Tusla is investing a total of €16.37 million into the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2018, an increase of 21% compared to 2017.
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