Core funding issue resolution good news for long awaited Longford FRC

An announcement on additional funding for 160 of the country’s 180 existing Family Resource Centres clears one of the obstacles to a long awaited FFC facility for Longford town, Longford Senator, Joe Flaherty (pictured) has said.

He stated, “I want to welcome the significant increase in core funding for the country’s network of Family Resource Centres (FRCs) announced by Minister Norma Foley.

Some 160 of the 180 centres will now have a base line of €180k (up from €160k) in core annual funding from January 2026.

The latest move follows on from core funding increases this year, when the FRCs core funding base level was brought up to €160,000.

It means an additional €20k in funding for Ballymahon’s Bridgeways FRC in 2026 and an additional €2,894 for Granard’s Lus na Greine, who were already funded at a higher level.”

Earlier this year the Minister announced the establishment of five new FRCs and unfortunately Longford town wasn’t included and was one of 35 unsuccessful applications.

Senator Flaherty explained, “I have spoken to Minister Norma Foley at length on the matter since then and she is eager and committed to bringing a FRC to Longford town and will visit the town in the coming weeks.”

Senator Flaherty says this announcement on core funding for the FRC network is an important next step as there was a concern and fear that no further capital funding would be approved for additional FRCs until the core funding challenge was addressed.

He concluded, “Next step now is the funding for the Longford site.”

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