Minister O’Gorman announces €1.5 million in additional funding for Family Resource Centres

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced €1.5 million additional funding for Family Resource Centres, with a new core funding level of €160,000 for Family Resource Centres (FRCs). This will benefit 54 FRCs around the country.

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. This funding will allow the FRCs to increase their staffing complements in some cases, and it will support the pivotal role FRCs play in so many communities across the country by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs.

Minister O’Gorman said:

Kate Duggan, the CEO of Tusla said:

The Family Resource Centre National Forum also welcomed the increase in core funding. Jackie Landers, Chair of the Family Resource Centre National Forum and CEO of Listowel Family Resource Centre said:

The Family Resource Centre programme is a community-focussed programme that is financially supported by many State Agencies. It is important to note that funding from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth represents only a portion of the total funding available to FRCs nationally. In addition to core funding provided by the department, FRCs draw on various sources of funding provided by other government departments and agencies.

Tusla administers the Family Resource Centre Programme, which provides funding support to 121 Family Resource Centres across the country. FRCs provides a range of universal and targeted services and development opportunities that address the needs of families. These can include:

• the provision of information, advice and support to target groups and families. Information concerning the range of services and development options available locally and advice on accessing rights and entitlements. FRCs act as a focal point for onward referrals to mainstream service providers
• delivering education courses and training opportunities
• the establishment and maintenance of new community groups to meet local needs and the delivery of services at local level (for example, childcare facilities, after-school clubs, men’s groups)
• the provision of counselling and support to individuals and groups
• developing capacity and leadership within communities
• supporting personal and group development
• practical assistance to individuals and community groups such as access to information technology and office facilities
• practical assistance to existing community groups such as providing help with organisational structures, assistance with accessing funding or advice on how to address specific social issues
• supporting networking within the community
• contributing to Policy work

FRCs Increase to €160k in 2025