Family Resource Centres(FRCs) in Tipperary are calling on Government to put community services at the heart of Budget 2025, so that they can provide the level of vital support services that are needed in local communities.
There are four family resource centres in the county – Silver Arch in Nenagh, Spafield in Cashel, Millennium in Glengoole and the Three Drives in Tipperary town. Some locations area also served by a Resource centre that takes on a wider range of services such as Knockanrawley Resource Centre.
The Family Resource Centre programme is delivered through a national network of 121 FRCs, supporting families experiencing poverty and disadvantage. The primary call is for an increase in core funding for all 121 FRCs, to €240,000 annually. Earlier this year the minimum level of core funding was increased to €160,000 per FRC – this figure was based on an analysis from 2018.
This funding is intended to cover the salary of three full-time staff members, operational costs and the running of services in the centre. The network says this budget is neither realistic nor sustainable. In addition the network is also calling for no new Family Resource Centres, until the funding of existing FRCs is addressed; and for consistent, long-term funding for counselling and therapeutic supports in FRCs nationwide alongside a new dedicated capital funding stream for FRCs.
