Family service centres warn of threat from McCarthy report

FAMILY Resource Centres around the country have warned that despite a growing demand for their services among vulnerable families, their future is under threat as a result of the McCarthy report.

The Family Resource Centre National Forum (FRCNF) went on to question the basis for the recommended abolition of the Family Support Agency (FSA) which provides much of their core funding. It claimed that the proposal to discontinue investment in their wide-ranging programmes was “rash” and could have irreversible consequences.

The FRCNF, which represents 107 centres across Ireland, yesterday criticised the An Bord Snip Nua report by economist Colm McCarthy which recommended that the FSA and most of its programme be discontinued in order to achieve annual savings of €30m.