Almost €11 million in funding is to be allocated to voluntary and community groups nationwide which provide a wide range of marriage, child and bereavement counselling services and supports.
Announcing the grants today, Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin, said the funding would enable counselling organisations to help people through difficult times in their lives.
Ms Hanafin said that funding for counselling services had risen by €1 million to €10.9 million this year, a 10 per cent increase on last year.
Overall, 600 organisations will receive funding with a number of organisations including Accord, Barnardos and the national bereavement support network, Rainbows, receiving grants in excess of €40,000.
Some of the larger voluntary counselling organisations will also, for the first time, operate on a three year multi- annual funding basis from 2009.
Marriage and relationship counselling accounts for 57 per cent of this year's funding, bereavement counselling and support 22 per cent, child counselling 14 per cent and marriage preparation 7 per cent.
Groups who have received a grant of over €20,000 may use up to 2 per cent of the grant towards professional development and training of counselling staff.
Since 2004, over €40 million has been allocated to counselling and support services through the Department’s Family Support Agency.
“I believe that families are central to our society and I am keen to support practical initiatives which help all members of the family to enhance stability in their lives during periods of stress and trauma that they may encounter," said Ms Hanafin.
