Donegal Family Resource Centres call for long-term funding for therapeutic services

Cara House, Donegal Family Resource Centre and Downstrands, Kilclooney,  were among 83 national Family Resource Centres who collectively said they need a more concerted plan is required in regard to funding.

In 2023, The National ‘Recovery and Resilience Programme for Children’ grant provided one-off funding of €1,000,000 for therapeutic community support in the family resource centres. The funding was used to support 4,548 children and 3,820 adults in the aftermath of Covid-19 with 71% of FRCs reporting a decrease in their waiting lists for services like play therapy, one-to-one psychotherapy, and parenting workshops.

“We can’t rely on one-off funding to address a long-term problem” - that’s according to the Family Resource Centre National Forum which published a research report on the experiences and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children and families and the impact of ‘Recovery and Resilience’ funded therapeutic supports and services in Family Resource Centres in Donegal and across the country.

Fergal Landy, CEO National Forum of Family Resource Centres, said: “This report clearly shows what FRCs in Donegal and across the country have achieved with one-off funding. Imagine what could be achieved with consistent, long-term funding. We could plan for the future, invest in full-time practitioners and ensure that appropriate therapeutic supports are consistently available for families when they need it most.

“This report has shown the efficacy of therapeutic supports in dramatically reducing waiting lists. The cost-effective approach is evidence based and we strongly advocate for commitment to long-term funding so that we can provide these vital therapeutic services in FRCs in Donegal and nationwide.”