News

The Family Resource Centre National Forum seeks an additional €8.5m to sustain delivery of the FRC National Programme.

The Family Resource Centre (FRC) National Forum, the national representative body for the 121 Family Resource Centres (FRCs) in Ireland, is today (26.07.23) calling for an additional €8.5 million in core funding for the FRC National Programme to ensure FRCs can continue to support children, families, individuals and communities throughout Ireland. The FRC National Forum is calling on Government to address the funding of existing FRCs before adding new centres to the programme.

Fergal Landy, CEO of the FRC National Forum, outlined that in their Pre Budget 2024 Submission “We are calling on Government to address the historical shortfall in the core funding of the FRC National programme in the interests of the children, families, individuals and communities that are supported, strengthened and empowered by the work of FRCs throughout our 121 strong network.

We are seeking an optimum core funding of €220,000 for all 121 Family Resource Centres. This will enable each FRC to provide a core operating model of a minimum of 3 full-time staff, sustain quality supports, enable pay parity to secure the retention of existing staff and employment of new staff and to leverage responses to emerging needs.This increase in core funding will also mean more children, families, individuals, and communities will be supported and empowered, and more resources will be accessed for those communities through the leveraging of other potential funding opportunities.”

The FRC National Programme is Ireland’s largest national family and community-based support programme of its kind, operating a human rights-based approach to community development and family support across the life-course. It marked its 25th anniversary at an event in Dublin’s Mansion House in May.

According to Louise Moran, Outgoing Chair of the FRC National Forum, “During the Covid-19 pandemic, and more recently during the response to people displaced by the war in Ukraine, FRCs have been to the fore in leading community-based initiatives that have formed a vital part of the State’s overall response in each instance.”

Examples of the support provided by FRCs in 2022 include:

58,325 counselling sessions for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families were delivered.
29,338 adults and children benefited from food bank initiatives.
There were 91,734 adult and child beneficiaries of community-based initiatives.
28,667 participated in education courses and initiatives provided.
28,488 adults received admin support such as interview skills training and IT support.

According to Fergal Landy, CEO of the FRC National Forum, “If all FRCs were to receive the optimum level of €220k funding called for then the programme activity outlined above would increase significantly in 2024 resulting in 41,400 more children and adults receiving support via their local, trusted FRC.” Mr Landy concluded: “The National FRC Programme is now again at a pivotal point. We believe that the important space we occupy between communities and the wider system represents a valuable counterbalance to the State model of service provision and an important strategic opportunity to weave informal and formal supports to empower communities to achieve their optimal well-being. Key to the continuation of this support is an increase in FRCs core funding to ensure that FRCs around the country can continue to deliver their vital work.”

In May 2023 the FRC National Forum published its 2022 Annual Report and in July its new 5-year Strategic Plan which will guide the FRCs towards their collective future. Both documents are available to view on our website.

ENDS

Contact: Fergal Landy, CEO - Mobile: 086 837 9764 - Email: ceo@familyresource.ie

Downloads

Our vision is that all children, families, individuals, and communities will actively participate and be included in a society that is equal, equitable, inclusive, and non-discriminatory and which will enable their optimal well-being.