Staff at Kilkenny’s family resource centres are hopeful this week that following a visit from Pat Carey, minister of community, equality and gaeltacht affairs, the future may be a little brighter for the troubled centres.
The minister began his tour of Carlow-Kilkenny in Urlingford where he stopped at the newly established Mill Family Resource Centre. He spoke positively about the future of family resource centres in the run up to the dreaded December budget.
However, the minister told the media that as far as he was concerned all the cuts that were to be made in family resource centres had been made at this point and the future looked positive for the centres which he added diid an amount of excellent and worthwhile work in the communities.
Following his trip to Urlingford Minister Carey visited the Aislinn Centre in Ballyragget, the Newpark Close Family Resource , The Father McGrath Centre in the Butts and Bagenalstown Family Resource Centre and Creche.
The minister formally opened the new free preschool at the Fr McGrath Centre which can now cater for up to 120 children daily. A lift was also opened at the centre which was dedicated to the memory of 22 year old Lorcan Dowd who had worked on a CE scheme at the centre but who since died of muscular dystrophy.
At the Newpark Family Resource Centre, Minister Carey opened the new playground and the Tony Walsh sports court. He cut the ribbon along with Tony Walsh, former director of services at Kilkenny Local authorities who played a large role in bringing the worthy project to fruition.
