Longford FRC are 'struggling' as they appeal for €125,000

Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre (FRC) has requested €125,000 in funding over the next five years due to financial struggles.

Coordinator Eileen Finan made a presentation to councillors at the monthly meeting of Granard Municipal District on Monday where she asked for help.

Eileen outlined how they receive €165,000 per year in Government funding and despite opening a charity shop in 2013, which has been 'brilliant' they need help.

"The €165,000 is great, it pays three of us, it helps pay the rent, auditors fees now are €6,000, insurance is €10,000 and it buys some stationary.

She said when the facility was established it started very well "but it was full of risks" and they were worried about people going up and down the stairs.

"We could have 80 teenagers in at a youth club or we could have kids in and the risks were so great.

"I begged our core funder Tusla and you must not forget about the Department of Children, they want you to be a resource centre but they do not give you the resources.

"I don't mind who I say it to, it is true,” she added.

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Eileen said they then decided to turn their attention to the council and the local politicians and she praised councillors who supported them when the council bought the building.

"Our intention was to use it as a family resource centre and we took on the refurbishment of it, that cost was €730,000," she added.

Eileen stated they have a lot of work to do and it is a big job with hard work and a lot of stress but the centre has made a big difference.

Eileen said they work from cradle to older age and several years ago a man contacted them following the death of his wife as he did not have the price of the funeral.

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She stated she put him at ease and advised him about what channels he could go through to apply for a funeral grant.

"I talk about the people we have helped and you know yourself, we work in Aughnacliffe, we worked in Ballinamuck, we work in Drumlish, we work in Ballinalee, Mullaghavorneen, right around the area,”she added.

Eileen said the centre also offers counselling, one to one sessions and art therapy with a child as young as three availing of art therapy.

"If we do not have good social capital we have nothing because that is what builds good communities and it gels good communities together and that is why that centre is precious," she added.

Eileen, who said they had met their core funder Tusla three times to appeal for money without success.

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She said the Economic Development Director of Services John Brannigan and Director of Finance John McKeon but they informed her there was no capital funding and the HSE gave them nothing.

She stated they drew down €340,000 in Leader funding and they got a loan, but they are 'struggling' and they are currently paying back €2,500 a month.

"We are putting solar panels on and we got a grant and we are really looking forward to that driving down our ESB bill," she added.

Eileen said she understood it was a big ask but she believes if the council could ringfence €25,000 a year for them for five years they would “do okay”.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr Garry Murtagh, Cllr Padraig McNamara and Cllr David Cassidy thanked her for the presentation and stated they would try their best to assist the centre.

Cllr Turlough McGovern praised the fantastic work that has been achieved and he said they will have to sit down with the co-opted councillor who replaces Senator Paraic Brady, and discuss it.

"It will have to go back to the drawing board and members themselves and come up with something," he concluded.