Calls for Longford town Family Resource Centre

Longford County Council are to seek financial support to undertake a survey to move forward on the provision of a Family Resource Centre for Longford town.
The issue was discussed at the December meeting of the local authority, where members were unanimous in their support of the project.

Councillor Peggy Nolan proposed the motion the council progress plans to provide a family resource centre in the county town. Cllr Nolan told members the provision of such a service was “vital for our community”.
The elected representative said greater efforts must be made to ensure resources are available for the provision of a family resource centre for Longford Town.

“It's of crucial importance to our town,” Cllr Nolan stated, “So much positivity is going on in our county at the moment. We have so much to offer. We have many support services, but this is the missing part of the jigsaw.”
Family resource centres offer a range of services and development opportunities to address the needs of families in the area.
At present there are two in Longford county; the Bridgeways FRC, located in Ballymahon, and Lus na Gréine FRC, in Granard. The FRCs provide a range of activities for the whole community.

Cllr Nolan urged the Executive to move on the provision of a FRC, “The last application was made in 2018. We weren't successful with that application. The ones in Ballymahon and Granard are providing fantastic services, but it's imperative we have on in our county town. We need to go after the POBAL funding that will be announced in the second quarter of 2024.”

Cllr Nolan added, “We need, as a council, to put together the strongest possible plan.
“We must look at the last plan, and engage with the partners who were involved at the time. There are many partners who can have an input into why Longford needs this.”
Cllr Nolan had one stipulation: “We need to identify a building or a site where this can be located. The only way this can be delivered is within walking distance of the town centre.
“Family resource centres cater for people's needs from the cradle to the grave. That is something we don't have in our county town,” she said.

Adding his voice to the discussion, Cllr Paul Ross praised the work of the FRC in Ballymahon: “The absence of such a centre in Longford is a huge loss. We see the benefits of it in Ballymahon. It's a huge part of the community,” adding that a Longford town centre should provide outreach services to Edgeworthstown.
Cllr Gerry Warnock also threw his weight behind the proposal: “If the county town can't have one, then where are we at? It came across very strongly at a recent public meeting in the town centre. Location is key, it's important that people who need to use the centre would be able to access it.”
Cllr Seamus Butler said a Family Resource Centre serves a wide range of people within the community, and also can avail of diverse funding opportunities: “It is badly needed in Longford town and it's surrounding areas. It's a necessity, not an option.”

In her reply Director of Services with responsibility for Community, Library and Cultural Services, Corporate and Human Resources, Barbara Heslin, said the executive were extremely supportive of the development of a family resource centre in Longford town.

“We've been working in the background with the community safety partnership. They have highlighted the need for a family resource centre as an early intervention opportunity particularly for young people,” Ms Heslin told the councillors.

The Director of Services said the local authority “absolutely 100% support” the calls for a Family Resource Centre in Longford town: “We are working very closely with the various stakeholders in advance of the opening by Tusla of a call for Family Resource Centre funding.”

Ms Heslin indicated that the project requires a 'needs analysis' to support the application: “We've contacted a number of consultants in relation to carrying out that work, however the budget we have set aside, together with Longford Community Safety Partnership, isn't adequate. We need additional funding, we are going to look to Tusla to see if they can pay for this research to be carried out.”