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THE NUMBER OF visits to 106 Family Resource Centres (FRC) has increased by 50% over a three year period.
FRCs are located primarily in disadvantaged areas throughout Ireland, and work to provide early-intervention child and family supports. Services range from assistance with form-filling to family mediation. The centres are now under the auspices of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla.
Increased demand
In 2013, FRCs had a total of 290,793 visitor contacts, compared to 193,000 in 2010.
The 106 centres receive €13.5 million in funding.
Karin Jonsson, Chairperson Family Resource Centres National Forum (FRCNF) said that it is a relatively small investment, for such a significant return.
Our work saves the State in the long term, as dealing with families in crisis is costly and has far more repercussions for the parents and children involved.
Last year, the centres provided over 30,000 learning opportunities, including accredited training opportunities that enhanced people’s ability to access employment. Other education opportunities included community education courses aimed at giving people the positive experience and renewed confidence to explore further education.
Funding freeze
Since 2008, FRCs have had their funding frozen and since 2011 have received a year-on-year budgetary reduction of 5% in core funding, as well as cuts from other sources such as HSE, ETB’s National Lottery and the department of Social protection.
Jonsson said Ireland’s economic downturn has had a profound impact on the families and communities.
“Six years ago, we became inundated with people whose jobs were at risk and who had lost employment. Then, issues of debt and debt management took hold. More recently, we have been dealing with the impacts of long-term unemployment on communities,” she said.
She said that throughout all of this, FRCs have remained consistent in their approach, she said.
We have kept the needs of our communities central to our work-plans and outputs, and we have concentrated on early-intervention work to prevent people’s problems from becoming more complex.
The FRCNF said the capacity to take further cuts would take away some important early interventions that could cost the State and families significantly into the future.
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Heartbreakingly sad for his family regardless of his age or any other contributory factors, deepest sympathies to them. RIP
Appropriate avatar…
My fb profile picture was clearly not chosen with this type or any type of article in mind, apologies if it offends anyone but I think it is unnecessary to change it in order to express heartfelt sympathies
Or any other factors and lots of green thumbs! Where’s the usual crowd? This man could have been Alan Ryan reincarnated! They said f*ck it about him. What about the poor gangsters that get shot? The other factors there are putting hard drugs on the streets, ruining community’s, murdering people etc…..
Whilst I recognise these may or may not be the other factors and feel quite strongly against such crimes and the hurt and pain which such crimes cause to the victims at the time and in the aftermath, I still sympathise with any family who are forced to grieve the loss of a loved one in any circumstance
How long before they announce he was known to the police and everyone loses interest?
Not too long tick tock….
yeah same old sad world we live in.
It doesn’t really matter what age he is, rip.
Can be difference between child getting murdered and a criminal being killed living by the sword.
BIG DIFFERENCE
Caps lock. Unleash the fury.
Who said anything about murder?
your speculation is not welcome nor acceptable Tara
Free world Sean.!!!!
Hope its not that young lad from oldcastle Kells, RIP to the poor soul
That poor young fella was found an hour or so ago.
RIP these 2 young men. Sympathies to both families, friends and relatives
The journal, IMO, have some strange policies, you can comment on this story which is, in a legal sense, ‘Irish’ but yet some similar stories outside of our duristriction are barred, for example Oscar Pretorius ??? Don’t understand. Someone said on an earlier story about wearing the burka and was slated for their comments, yet I’ve seen some very inflammatory comments about the Roman Catholic Church, Im not a member and agreed with same comments, but these are allowed to remain on the site. Strange.
On the commenting on ongoing legal issue, these are said to be sub judice and as such many jurisdictions forbid speculation during that time. As the internet is international the Journal seems to be erring on the side of caution.
More generally, like many online news sources, the Journal allows free commenting without pre moderation. Post moderation policies under UK law mean that if someone draws attention to a comment then they become liable and must take action or not. They are not responsible for any unreported comments.
This is a very common moderating stance. The alternative is pre-moderation, which is expensive and tends to be much more restrictive.
Just seen this in RTE Nuacht and it is believed that its a boy ages between 10 and 14.
So bloody sad.
Gardaí have officially confirmed that the man is believed to have been in his early 20s.
Well the RTE have it wrong, eh?
@Michelle Hennessy – I now see that RTE have clarified that it is actually a man in his early 20′s.
However, Nuacht RTE got it so wrong!
May he Rip.
Maybe you’re Irish just isn’t up to scratch
Regardless if his age some family at thus moment in time have received heart breaking news. Rip young man .
@David Flynn – I’m sure there’s someone about here that can confirm that I’m right.
But it’s not about if I’m right or wrong. It’s about the death of a young man.
In his 20′s?? Is that right, its just that i’ve heard a few different ages in the last hour or so
This is only down the road from me. He was found face down so they couldn’t judge his age at first. May he rest in peace.
Three young lives lost over the weekend just gone like that. Must be heart Breaking for the families. May they R.I.P
God rest the poor lad :( Rest in peace deepest condolences to all his family and friends.It is so horrendous so many of our people dying in such awful ways.
Why are comments open for stories such as this?
Why not?
Erm, perhaps because extended family do not know yet and find out here. Just one reason.
Because there are a few people who could care less that this young man is dead. Murdered, suicide, whatever it is he is dead. So show some bloody respect.
@Silent, see my rant on this, really don’t get it, no rhyme or reason to the journal and it’s ‘policies’.
He hasn’t been identified, there is no photo published. How is his extended family going to “find out here”?
I am hopin he is not someone i know :( . Buh still very very sad.
But
I bring the dog for a walk there every night- theres never anyone around except for the odd runner. Really sad. RIP.
Perfect dumping spot.
I’m pretty sure you can’t comment on the Oscar Pistorius story because it is still a legal investigation. Not sure but think I’ve seen that written as the reason
But surely this is too, and it’s within our legal ‘area’, whereas the Oscar P is not and neither story are current legal trials as yet!
May he rest in peace
I seen that but it’s been changed now
Yeah thats what i’ve read also
have your say