Search

Listen Live

On Air Now

3:00pm - 7:00pm

Drivetime

Years & Years

King

Local Authority Welcomes New Midlands Family Resource Centre

Wednesday, 4 February 2026 13:53

Members of Longford County Council management team and elected representatives with Minister Norma Foley. Photo Credit: Shelley Corcoran

A recent survey ranks Longford among the most deprived areas in the country.

Longford County Council is welcoming the announcement that funding has been secured for a new Family Resource Centre (FRC) in Longford Town.

The confirmation made this week by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley, places Longford among ten new locations approved for inclusion in the national Family Resource Centre Programme. This expansion increases the number of centres nationwide from 126 to 136.

The need for an FRC in Longford Town has been raised for many years. During a recent visit to The Attic House on the Ballinalee Road, Minister Foley met with local partners to hear about the scale of need and the strong community support behind the project.

A detailed needs assessment, commissioned by Longford County Council in partnership with Sláintecare Healthy Communities and the Longford Community Safety Partnership, highlighted the challenges facing the town. Longford now ranks among the most deprived areas nationally. Almost 35% of residents were born overseas, 6% identify as members of the Traveller community, and more than 24% live with disabilities. Child protection referrals remain high, while poverty, housing instability, and school avoidance continue to rise.

The assessment also identified significant gaps in services for children, young people, families, older people, people with disabilities, Travellers, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, “This is a very positive announcement for Longford. A Family Resource Centre will give families direct access to early help, practical advice, and a welcoming place to turn. It will strengthen the support networks already in place and help build a safer and healthier Longford. We look forward to working closely with all partners to bring the centre to life.”

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, “This is excellent news for Longford Town and for the county as a whole. Communities thrive when families are supported, and this announcement shows that our voice has been heard. The new Family Resource Centre will be a place where people feel welcome, included, and supported. I want to thank everyone who played a part in securing this vital investment.”

A voluntary steering committee—made up of local residents with lived experience, community representatives, and individuals with governance expertise—submitted a detailed application to Tusla following the reopening of FRC funding in May 2025, the first such opportunity since 2018.

The new FRC will be based at The Attic House in Longford Town, owned by Attic House CLG, and will operate in partnership with Foróige. The steering committee will now form a voluntary board of management and incorporate as a company limited by guarantee.

Family Resource Centres are funded by Tusla and run by voluntary community-led committees. They provide universal and targeted supports, build community capacity, and operate an open-door service with no referral needed. Existing centres in County Longford include Bridgeways FRC in Ballymahon and Lus na Gréine FRC in Granard.

The need for a Longford Town FRC was first formally recognised over a decade ago, with an initial application unsuccessful in 2017/2018. Since then, the need has deepened, making this week's announcement especially significant.

Share

More from Midlands News

Download Our App

Never miss a moment from Midlands 103