Dungarvan remains without a Family Resource Centre after the Government announced funding for ten new centres nationwide.
The latest announcement included no commitment, proposal, or timeline for Dungarvan or West Waterford.
The decision means a large part of County Waterford still has no access to a Family Resource Centre.
Other towns and regions will now receive services that families in West Waterford continue to lack.
Waterford Identified as a Service Gap
Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness said the omission highlights a wider pattern of neglect toward Waterford and the South East.
He said Dungarvan stands out nationally because it has no Family Resource Centre despite clear and documented need.
Large areas between Waterford City, Midleton, and Cashel now remain without coverage.
This leaves West Waterford as a geographic and service outlier.
Deputy McGuinness has called for a Family Resource Centre in Dungarvan for several years.
He previously published a detailed roadmap outlining the need for such a facility.
He also raised the issue again this year following engagement with the Family Resource Centre National Forum.
More recently, he identified a Family Resource Centre as a core element of any future community centre for Dungarvan.
Despite this work, the Government has made no formal commitment to deliver a centre in the area.
Families Missing Out on Essential Supports
Family Resource Centres provide parenting supports, counselling, education programmes, and community development services.
Existing centres in Waterford City already operate under pressure.
The absence of any comparable facility in Dungarvan means families must travel or go without support.
This gap affects children, parents, and vulnerable households across West Waterford.
Competitive Process Criticised
The current model relies on communities applying for centres through competitive processes.
Local representatives say this approach disadvantages areas that already lack resources.
Deputy McGuinness said Government must plan services based on need rather than process.
He said Ministers cannot continue to point to procedures while ignoring clear service gaps.
Calls for Direct Government Action
There is currently no proposal on the table for a Family Resource Centre in Dungarvan.
There is also no timeline or funding commitment in place.
Local representatives say Government must now engage directly with the area.
They say Waterford and the wider South East deserve fair and equal access to family and community services.
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