Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
2485. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1482 of 18 March 2026, the basis used to select the family resource centre funding allocation; if the methodologies together with all scores being attributed to individual applicants will be supplied to this Deputy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25187/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that the following were the specific 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.
These criteria were published on the Tusla website when the application process was launched, and all organisations interested in applying to join the Family Resource Centre Programme would have been aware of these criteria.
Either myself nor the Department had any involvement in the review or assessment process for new members of the Family Resource Centre Programme, or in shortlisting or selecting new Programme members. I note that the organisation referenced in Parliamentary Question number 1482 was provided with the scores it obtained as part of the assessment process, and can confirm that the Department was not provided with the scores obtained by any of the applicants.
I understand that Tusla has issued correspondence to the organisations that were unsuccessful as part of the 2025 open call for applications. The purpose of this correspondence was to advise that Tusla will be hosting a webinar to meet with unsuccessful applicants to discuss the Family Resource Centre National Programme, to provide general feedback and to give advice for any future application processes. This will give the organisations a better understanding of what is needed to be a Family Resource Centre. A date for this will be decided in the coming weeks, and it is expected that the webinar will take place during the summer.
Unfortunately, there is currently no additional funding available to further expand the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme in 2026. I will continue to pursue the expansion of the FRC Programme through the forthcoming budgetary process and in line with the Programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres. If successful in securing funds for future expansion of the FRC Programme, a new call for applications will be launched to ensure all existing and newly interested locations can apply.
