'100% confident': Reprieve for Longford as Family Resource Centre on the way for county town

Longford town is set to be announced imminently as having successfully secured funding for a Family Resource Centre (FRC), which will deliver a range of valuable supports for local children, parents and individuals.

It is understood the long-awaited new facility will be one of a further 10 centres nationwide confirmed by the end of this month.

The Longford FRC will increase the  number in county Longford to three along with Lus na Gréine FRC in Granard and Bridgeways FRC in Ballymahon.

Minister for Children and Disabilities Norma Foley is due to visit Longford town on Thursday morning to view the The Attic House on the Ballinalee Road, which was identified as the premises for a new FRC.

Also read: 'This is about fairness': Longford has 'highest level of need' for Family Resource Centre

Longford TD Micheál Carrigy, who was part of the Longford Family Resource Centre steering committee, said he is '100% confident' the county town will soon be announced as being one of the 10 selected locations.

The Ballinalee native stated there was significant work done by various agencies and individuals during the past 18-to-24 months and during the unsuccessful application in 2017-2018.

"I'm confident, I'm just waiting for the official announcement, but the work has been done.

"The work was done in the application, the fact that we had a committee that put in fantastic work over a long number of years to benefit the facility there.

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"The committee chaired by Veronica [Brennan], along with other agencies, has put together an application that is second to none.

"It's fantastic, it's needed and the compliments need to go to the people that have been working away over the last number of years on it.

"The various agencies that came together, who did the needs assessment, the local authority have been involved, the community civic partnership, other agencies to put their shoulder to the wheel and the people that put their names forward to take on roles in the boards of management to manage this facility into the future."

Also read: Disappointment as Longford misses out on Family Resource Centre despite 'crying need'

The need for a FRC in Longford town was recognised over a decade ago, with an unsuccessful application made in 2017-2018.

The needs assessment report published last July in The Attic House on the Ballinalee Road outlined Longford town had one of the highest levels of deprivation in the country with almost 35% of residents born overseas, 6% identifying as members of the Traveller community and over 24% of residents living with a disability.

The report found that Longford town faces a multitude of complex issues, including gaps in services for kids, teenagers, families, retirees, as well as people with disabilities, Travellers, asylum seekers and refugees.

There was disappointment last September when Longford was not selected as one of five to receive funding, but there is relief now.

Deputy Carrigy said people have seen the benefits that an FRC has within the community in both Ballymahon and Granard and he looks 'forward to seeing services being delivered in both Longford and the outreach services in Edgeworthstown', which is part of the application.

"We have issues on the ground in our county, but this is a strong, positive step towards working on these issues."

The new Longford Family Resource Centres and the other centres will receive a minimum funding level of €180,000 in core funding this year.

Also read: 'Critical' that Longford town receives family resource centre funding

Local Fianna Fáil Senator Joe Flaherty said Minister Foley is coming to Longford at his invitation to review the case for an FRC in Longford and 'significant work has been done' over the last number of months.

"We are about 15 years pursuing this project in Longford, and [last year] was the second time that we went to the well and we came back disappointed.

"Since that happened I've been fairly unrelenting in contacting the Minister and impressed upon her the need for this."

Senator Flaherty said the Minister has also been in Longford before in her capacity as Minister for Education.

"She is very familiar with the challenges that do pertain to Longford town both socio and economically and the Minister is a great champion and she's a great supporter of the Family Resource Centre.

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"She sees it really as the gateway for communities like Longford in terms of breaking down deprivation, in terms of breaking down a societal and cultural norm and to get this support as quick as possible into a local community, the best way to do that is through a Family Resource Centre."