"Ó Cuív approves almost €8 million for Marriage, Child and Bereavement Counselling Services"

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., has approved funding of over €7.8 million to 29 major organisations which provide a wide range of marriage, child and bereavement counselling services and supports nationwide.

Announcing the funding Minister Ó Cuív said "I am delighted to be in a position to continue funding for these counselling organisations at the same level as last year. This is the second payment to these organisations in a three year multi-annual funding cycle and it enables the organisations concerned to plan and develop quality services knowing that their funding is secure. This approach offers continuity and stability to the communities they serve."

The grants will be used by counselling organisations to provide marriage counselling, marriage preparation courses, counselling services to children whose lives have been affected by parental separation and bereavement counselling and support to families on the death of a family member.

The funding announced by Minister Ó Cuív covers:

• €4.7 million for major providers of services such as ACCORD, Marriage & Relationship Counselling Ltd and Cork Marriage Counselling Services.
• €1.9 million for regional networks of services in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Louth, Mayo, Roscommon and Waterford.
• €748,000 services providing supports for children in need of counselling in relation to parental separation and bereavement.
• €458,000 for organisations providing services in disadvantaged communities.

Minister Ó Cuív said "These grants, demonstrate the Government’s continued commitment to offering practical assistance to families and individuals at particularly stressful periods in their lives. The funding will help counselling services to continue to carry out their crucial work."

Minister Ó Cuív concluded by saying that over €11.8 million will be spent this year, on counselling services, through the Family Support Agency and that there would be a further announcement later this year in relation to funding for the many other local services that are being provided in communities around the country.

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