31. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to support family resource centres in meeting increasing demand for their services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47425/26]

In Budget 2026 I successfully secured the largest increase in funding for the Family Resource Centre network in eight years. This additional funding allowed me to honour the current Programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres.

In this context funding was secured to provide for an increase in minimum core funding to a new base level of €180,000, up from the previous base level of €160,000. This benefitted a significant number of Family Resource Centre Programme members.

Since becoming Minister I also secured funding for the largest expansion of Family Resource Centres in eight years. Membership has grown from 126 members to 136 members, an increase in ten members. This followed the 2025 expansion from 121 members to 126 members. Recent increases in FRC Programme membership have been very welcome developments for an additional fifteen communities in need of the comprehensive range of services offered by Family Resource Centres.

Tusla continues to invest in counselling and therapeutic supports, and recognises that Family Resource Centres are able to reach clients who, in many cases, would not be able to access such services. These services are delivered at low to no-cost to recipients. These supports have a strong focus on early intervention, affordability, and a holistic approach to mental health and well-being for all ages. I was pleased that over the last number of years the Department secured additional funding for family support services counselling providers around the country, many of which were Family Resource Centres.

Clinical and Therapeutic Lead posts were established by Tusla in 2024 in a number of FRCs around the country, to ensure that there is a Clinical and Therapeutic Lead in all six Tusla regions. I understand that this initiative is working very well in the context of clinical leadership, development of quality services and monitoring of clinical practice and governance standards.

I wish to reiterate my support for the work of the Family Resource Centre Programme members, having witnessed first-hand the benefits that the centres bring to their communities. I acknowledge the increasing demands on their services. I have previously indicated that in the next series of Budget negotiations I will have a mind to the Family Resource Centre Programme and any measures that can be put in place to further support the Programme and the valuable work that it does. This is with a view to building on recent achievements related to core funding and Programme expansion.

It is important to note that the Family Resource Centre Programme is a community development programme that is financially supported by many State agencies in a partnership approach. Centres may draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments, State agencies and private sources. This approach allows centres to further embed themselves in their communities by meeting the specific needs identified within those communities. This is a flexibility that all FRCs are encouraged to leverage, to reflect the diverse range of potential funders for services an FRC may provide, beyond services to children and families.