Funded announced for Leitrim voluntary organisation that works to prevent suicide

A Leitrim voluntary body that works to prevent suicide will benefit from the announcement this week that ten new Family Resource Centres (FRCs) are to be established. 

Sligo/Leitrim TD Frank Feighan TD welcomed the inclusion of Northwest STOP, Main Street, Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim as one of the successful applicants. “I wish to congratulate the committee at ‘STOP’ who purchased a premises on Main Street, Drumkeerin some years ago and facilitated the establishment of the suicide support group there with a permanent base in the centre of the county.

“Every community in Leitrim and the west of Ireland is painfully aware of the suffering of families and friends as an outcome of young people who choose to take their own lives, this support by Minister Foley to create a new FRC under the ‘STOP Organisation’ is very welcome for Co Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan and North Roscommon and my hope is that more and more people who feel unwell can turn to the services and the counsellors at the end of the line and get the help they need in a time” concluded Minister Feighan.

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An open call was made to all interested parties and subsequent submissions were evaluated in a process independently chaired by a representative of the University of Limerick.

All submissions were reviewed and scored against the clearly defined and published criteria, including population need, level of deprivation, child population data, existing service provision and existing service gaps.

Minister Foley said: “I am delighted to announce the establishment of ten new Family Resource Centres, based on funding I secured as part of the Budget 2026 negotiations. I have seen first-hand the incredible work that Family Resource Centres do every single day. They are of the community and for the community and by the community and they represent our ongoing investment in children, families, and communities across Ireland.  I intend to continue via the Budgetary process the expansion of the network of Family Resource Centres over the lifetime of this government.”

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The successful applicants will now be allocated core funding of €180,000 for each full year of operation. Tusla will work closely with the successful applicants, with assistance from the Family Resource Centre National Forum, to support their integration into the Family Resource Centre Programme. The National Forum will assist new centres in building links with existing FRCs, offering practical guidance and partnership to ensure smooth integration into the national Programme.