Campaigners in Erris - size of County Louth - secure project funding

The three-year campaign for a Family Resource Centre (FRC) in Erris, north-west Mayo, was finally brought to a successful conclusion on October 25.

Tusla CEO Bernard Gloster and regional and area managers confirmed to the local steering committee that funding was on the way for the long-awaited facility.

While Erris won’t see a FRC established it will get the closest thing to it – funding for a Family Resource Support Service (FRSS).

“The professional and consistent campaign depicted convincingly to The Child and Family Agency and Minister Roderic O’Gorman that the Erris case for a resource such as this was unique and undeniable,” said a statement from Tusla.

The distance from other services, the high levels of disadvantage, and the increase in complex family and social needs in the area led the agency to make a commitment to invest in a service to facilitate the community to respond to these needs.

Work on this project began with an initial application in 2018. Three new FRCs were established in the region - the Erris application just fell short coming in fourth place.

There were two key recommendations following the unsuccessful application: set up a local committee to ensure a bottomup approach, and carry out more localised research.

In late 2018 local research was completed by Strategic Direction under Erris Interagency Network. In autumn 2019 a local steering committee made up of members of the community and representatives from organisations and agencies operating in Erris was established. There followed three years of hard work, dedication, and passion, overcoming obstacles in the campaign caused by Covid-19.

The committee’s original request was for an FRC to be part of the national Family Resource Centre Programme. The programme is currently closed to new applications. However, campaigners said there was a compelling case for Erris.

“Taking seriously their statutory obligation, Tusla wanted to act and play their part in supporting a service for the rural community,” added the Tusla statement.

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Tusla CEO, Bernard Gloster, congratulated the Erris campaigners. He noted “the uniqueness of Erris in the sheer distance from a whole range of services as set out in the committee’s plan”.

“That together with aspects of rural isolation presented a very compelling case,” he added.

“As opposed to asking the community in Erris to wait for a further round of FRC consideration, I was anxious that we would respond to the acute need in the area.”

In an official confirmation, he approved the establishment of a Family Resource Support Service and thanked the committee for their commitment.

Mr Gloster said he looked forward to visiting the area in the near future and to see “what no doubt will be the very positive progress for the weeks, months and years ahead”.

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Chairperson of the FRC for Erris campaign group, Leanne Barrett explained: “Our vision for the area is an inclusive, sustainable and independent community that is selfsufficient and provides a supportive environment to all those living here. We have always said that any project must be locally-based, embedded in the community, with local involvement and ownership.

“We now have the resources and investment needed to create a project that will strengthen the Erris community and ensure that local families have services and supports available to them in their own area. We really appreciate the support and engagement from local and national Tusla, and the Minister in seriously considering our case and acting on the evidence.”

Ms Barret concluded “Cross party and interagency support were crucial to the approval for this resource. We will continue to work closely with our Mayo TDs and other public agencies and organisations in completing the establishment of this service.”

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The FRC for Erris campaign set out an annual budget of €160,000 per annum as part of the strategic plan and proposal sent to Tusla and the Department.

The annual core budget granted is €160,000 and will allow Erris FRSS to hire three core staff to serve an area the size of Co. Louth and with a population of just over 8,500 people.

The new service will be run by a voluntary management committee as a registered CLG, and in time a registered charity.

There are currently 121 Family Resource Centres across the country. The Department of Children is not expanding the programme at present. The Erris FRSS will not form part of the programme, but it will work from the same model of family support and community development.