A councillor has called for the provision of a family resource centre in the growing town of Clonakilty in West Cork.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking at the recent meeting of Cork County Council\u2019s West Cork Municipal District, Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse said it was \u201cshocking\u201d that Clonakilty did not have such a resource.<\/p>\n
In a motion proposed at the meeting Ms Towse asked: \u201cThat the West Cork Municipal District will write to Tusla and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality asking they fund the provision of a family resource centre for Clonakilty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n \u201cPlain and simple, Clonakilty needs a family resource centre and it\u2019s shocking that it doesn\u2019t have one. There is a family resource centre in Dunmanway, Skibbereen, Bandon, two in Beara, but none in Clonakilty. Clon has at least double the population of all these areas, bar Bandon.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Ms Towse said Clonakilty was often regarded as \u201caffluent and privileged,\u201d and \u201cperhaps that’s to it’s detriment, because there\u2019s no doubt that is there and it’s all very nice for attracting tourism, but what people on the outside don\u2019t see is the poverty and social issues and the lack of services to address these, leaving families struggling alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She said as a councillor who had knocked on every single door in the town multiple times, she saw struggling families firsthand. She said speaking with organisations in the town that deal with social issues and social work, made it clear there was a major gap in the provision of supports for families and children in the area.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe need a family resource centre that Tusla can work out of, somewhere with an open door that families can walk straight into. A place that\u2019s not clinical, where there\u2019s other activities going on, where they can also find community and support. A family resource centre.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThe department simply needs to meet the needs of Clonakilty. We now have a homeless shelter for families, a direct provision centre, and 20% of all housing estates are social housing, on top of the new social housing estates that have gone up recently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalised families need support. They deserve better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Replying for the council, Municipal District officer Eimear O\u2019Neill said with the members agreement, letters would be sent to Tusla and the Department of Children.<\/p>\n
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