Summary: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has announced a significant increase in core funding for Ireland’s Family Resource Centres (FRCs), raising the minimum annual allocation from €160,000 to €180,000 starting January 2026. The move will benefit 100 of the country’s 126 centres, strengthening community-based support for children and families.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality confirmed today that Family Resource Centres across Ireland will receive a minimum of €180,000 in core funding from January 2026, following allocations secured in Budget 2026. The increase builds on last year’s uplift to €160,000 and reflects the government’s commitment to bolstering frontline family services.
Minister Foley described the announcement as recognition of the “vital role” FRCs play in their communities, adding: “All Family Resource Centres will be in receipt of a minimum of €180,000 in core funding in January next year. The increases will be paid to the centres by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which administers the Family Resource Centre Programme.”
Tusla CEO Kate Duggan welcomed the decision, noting that the funding will strengthen services such as family support work, counselling, education, training, advocacy, and youth programmes. She emphasized the importance of early intervention, saying the increase will help meet the needs of vulnerable children, families, and communities nationwide.
Family Resource Centres provide a wide range of services, including information and advice, education and training opportunities, counselling, childcare, after-school clubs, and community group development. They also act as focal points for referrals to mainstream service providers and contribute to policy work at local and national levels.
The announcement follows the establishment of five new centres in Dublin, Monaghan, Louth, Kildare, and Galway, bringing the total to 126. Funding has also been secured to establish ten additional centres in 2026, marking the largest expansion in recent years.
The funding increase represents a major investment in Ireland’s community infrastructure, ensuring Family Resource Centres can continue to deliver essential services and strengthen resilience for families across the country.
