Family resource centre calls for budget increase to support Wexford families

The South West Wexford Family Resource Centre is joining a national call for increased investment in community-based family support, counselling, and wellbeing services as part of Budget 2027. The centre is experiencing growing demand for family support and advocacy, counselling and therapeutic supports, parenting and wellbeing programmes, community development and social inclusion initiatives, and crisis and practical support. Budget 2027 priorities include a minimum €255,000 core funding allocation per Family Resource Centre, a dedicated capital funding stream, and urgent ring-fenced investment in counselling and therapeutic supports. The centre reports increasing complexity in presenting issues and continued pressure on services linked to cost-of-living, housing, and mental health challenges. The centre states it is often the first point of contact and that preventative community investment is essential for effective and sustainable local responses.

""We're often the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking support," said Ms Kennedy. "We are seeing increasing levels of need across family support, mental health, isolation and financial hardship. Continued investment in community-based preventative supports is essential if we are to respond effectively and sustainably to these challenges locally," she concluded."

Read at Irish Independent