Penrose supports FRCs' fight for survival

Local Dáil deputy Willie Penrose has heard at first hand the concerns of Westmeath's two Family Resource Centres, who are worried for their future, in the wake of the Bord Snip Nua report.On Wednesday, at Cara Phort FRC in Ballynacargy, Deputy Penrose met representatives of the four centres in Longford Westmeath (Bridgeways FRC in Ballymahon; Cara Phort FRC in Mullingar; Granard FRC, and Monsignor McCarthy FRC in Athlone), and pledged his full support to their cause.According to Deputy Penrose, the 107 Family Resource Centres throughout Ireland provide a vital service to local communities and in particular those experiencing disadvantage and isolation."For many people in local communities, the Family Resource Centre is the only place they can turn to when faced with many social problems. FRCs are doing vital work, and unfortunately their work is more important than ever now that we face times of economic hardship. The model provide by FRCs is a community response to its own problems, and people are going to need a lot of help to face new problems in the coming years.""The McCarthy report talks about the closure of the Family Support Agency and the potential saving of €30 million, without any reference to the vast amount of services that are delivered across the country for that investment."The Labour TD pledged to raise the issue with Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD, and Roisin Shortall, Labour Party spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs. He also called on his fellow Oireachtas members in Longford / Westmeath to join him in supporting the campaign aims of the Family Resource Centres. He said that this was a time for a united front to decide on what sort of a society we want in the future. "I hope that my fellow Longford Westmeath TDs and Senators - particularly those in Government, will join me in supporting our local Family Resource Centres. It is time for us to stand by those communities who didn't get the benefits of the Celtic Tiger and are now being asked to pay for the excesses of the bankers."