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

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced €1.5m 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, “I have personally witnessed the positive impact FRCs have on communities and the vast range of work they do, and am delighted to be in a position to increase the core funding levels of these FRCs. I know that this has been a long-standing request of FRCs. These increases are on top of the WRC agreement reached in October 2023. The increases I am announcing today will take effect in 2024 and will ensure that from next year onwards no FRC will receive less than €160,000 in core funding from my Department.

"This allocation will combat the increased costs some FRCs have faced and aid in expanding service provision. Any future increases to core funding across the programme will build off this new level. The increases will be paid to the centres by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.”

Kate Duggan, the CEO of Tusla said, “Tusla welcome today’s announcement by Minister O’Gorman of additional funding for Family Resource Centres, ensuring a new core funding level of €160,000. This investment will strengthen services provided in communities right across the country, positively impacting the children, young people, individuals, and families that live in these communities and benefit from Family Resources Services.”

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 National Forum greatly appreciate the level of genuine engagement and commitment that Minister Roderic O’Gorman has demonstrated to the National Family Resource Centre Programme. The Minister has regularly visited local FRCs and has regularly met with the FRC National Forum, including as recently as three weeks ago. The funding announced today is very significant for 54 of our least funded members and is an important milestone in the journey towards adequate, sustainable funding for all FRCs.”