Two family centres net €550,000

TWO FAMILY resource centres in Waterford are to receive capital funding to the tune of €550,000.

Minister Martin Cullen has announced the centres — St Brigid’s on the Lower Yellow Road and the Sacred Heart at Richardstown Meadows on the Old Tramore Road — will by funded by the Family Support Agency which comes under Mr Cullen’s remit at the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Mr Cullen has provided more than €3.4 million in funds to the agency to support capital development building projects at a small number of resource centres around the country including the two Waterford centres.

The funding of €350,000 will be used for renovation purposes at St Brigids’ while that of €200,000 is being used to build an extension to the Sacred Heart premises.

“I am delighted that such substantial sums of money are being provided by the Family Support Agency to support two of our local Family Resource Centres which help marginalised groups combat disadvantage and improve the function of the family unit,” said Mr Cullen.

“Vibrant communities are the lifeblood of Irish society. Our communities are built around clusters of families, friends, neighbourhoods and parishes. In modern Ireland it is vital we work together to ensure thriving communities remain central to our society.”

He said that Family Resource Centres help empower families and help develop the sense of community.

“The centres empower disadvantaged people by involving them in decisions which affect them and in using and developing their own skills, knowledge and experience,” he said.