Family resource centres around the State do fantastic work but are under significant pressure due to rising costs and increasing demands on their services. The level of core funding is simply not keeping pace with their escalating overheads. Portlaoise and Mountmellick family resource centres are providing vital services to families that are making a real difference with services, including parenting support, youth intervention, early-year preschool services, counselling and a whole lot more. The centre in Harper's Lane in Portlaoise is providing 114 preschool places alone. However, without an increase in the forthcoming budget, family resource centres will be limited to crisis-driven reactive responses instead of more effective early interventions. The core operational budget for these centres is €180,000 per annum. It is simply not enough to pay three full-time staff. While I know there will be a lot of asks in the forthcoming budget, without these centres there will be a lot more costs. I ask the Tánaiste to ensure they receive a substantial increase in core funding.

Sentiment score: 0.16