Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
187. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria being used to select family resource centres for funding via the National Forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13215/26]
View answerI wish to clarify that the Family Resource Centre National Forum does not fund Family Resource Centre Programme members. Core funding of the Programme members is an operational matter for Tusla, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme. Tusla is also responsible for the commissioning of new Family Resource Centres.
In relation to the expansion of the FRC Programme over 2025 and 2026, a comprehensive national application and assessment process was undertaken, which was led by Tusla and independently chaired by a representative of the University of Limerick. All applications were reviewed and scored against the clearly defined and published criteria, including population need, level of deprivation, child population data, existing service provision and existing service gaps. Decisions on the successful services were made by the assessment panel.
The following were the criteria set out as part of the Tusla application process:
• Willingness to engage with Tusla on funding for children and family support services.
• It is desirable for a Board of Management to be in place (as opposed to a partnership company). Where a Board of Management is not in place, successful organisations will be timebound to form their own Board of Management with the capacity to develop services.
• Have existing facilities suitable to deliver the programme.
• Demonstrate the ability to deliver outcomes driven service based on evidence based or evidence informed delivery model.
• The absence of a sustainable alternative service providing a range of services similar to those provided by existing FRCs.
• CYPSC Plan and/or Tusla Area Commissioning Plan, will be considered where in place.
• Evidence of a large population or socio-economically disadvantaged population currently without a sufficient service to meet needs.
• Evidence of a lack of locally available services to provide a range of children and family supports reflective of the local community.
