A new chapter for family support in West Kerry began on 26 September 2026, as Minister Norma Foley officially opened Áiseanna na hÓige in Dingle as part of Tusla’s National Family Resource Centre Programme. The Dingle Family Resource Centre is the first in County Kerry to provide a dedicated family support service through Irish.
Based at Ard na Gréine, the centre has supported families and community development across Corca Dhuibhne for many years. Its formal admission to the national programme recognises the essential local services already being delivered and provides a stronger foundation for their future.
Dingle Family Resource Centre strengthens Irish-language family support
Áiseanna na hÓige uses an early-intervention and prevention model designed to help families build resilience, improve relationships and promote children’s wellbeing. Its services include:
- One-to-one family support and parenting programmes
- Meitheal meetings involving families and relevant agencies
- Play therapy, workshops and community activities
- Support for Ukrainian families, IPAS residents and other newcomers
- Outreach services for families living in rural areas
The centre works closely with Tusla, schools and health services, helping families access coordinated assistance closer to home. Providing support through Irish is especially significant in the West Kerry Gaeltacht, where language can be central to identity, communication and trust.
National Family Resource Centre network expands
Áiseanna na hÓige was among ten new centres announced earlier in 2026 following funding secured during Budget 2026 negotiations. The addition brings Ireland’s national network to 146 Family Resource Centres, including 13 in County Kerry.
Minister Foley said the centre had been providing the services associated with an FRC for many years and described its new status as recognition of the quality of its work. Tusla representatives also welcomed the move, highlighting the centre’s established links with the West Kerry community and its accessible, community-based approach.
Tusla Kerry had advocated for the centre’s inclusion in the national programme since 2013. The designation is expected to support core staffing on a longer-term basis, including centre management and family support workers.
Accessible services for local families
The Dingle centre also provides a local setting for subsidised therapeutic supports delivered by Kerry Adolescent Counselling Agency. It offers safe spaces for social work access visits and can provide a therapeutic environment when required by Barnahus.
Additional Tusla funding supports trauma-informed therapeutic services for Ukrainian and IPAS families. Families can also access childcare options at the centre, while eligible households receiving Tusla Family Support may apply for free childcare through the Tusla National Childcare Scheme.
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What the opening means for West Kerry
The new status gives Áiseanna na hÓige a clearer role within Ireland’s family support infrastructure while preserving its local character. By combining Irish-language services, rural outreach, therapeutic support and community development, the centre can help remove practical and cultural barriers to assistance.
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Key takeaway: The Dingle Family Resource Centre brings long-standing local expertise into Tusla’s national network, expanding accessible family support through Irish and strengthening services for children, parents and newcomers across West Kerry.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
