Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State referred to €12 million outstanding or having to be spent in the coming two months. He also mentioned that he is meeting representatives of the HSE tomorrow. Will he issue a statement outlining where that money is going to go in the next two months? It will then be clear and transparent as to where the money is going and how much is being ring-fenced for children, the Travelling community and mental health.

The Minister of State also mentioned the funding for the Exchange House Ireland and the developments under way to try to provide access to communities via the emergency phone number. All the information we have received in the past two to three weeks, however, is that it is not working. The Minister of State is correct when he states no one has a monopoly on knowing what is the right thing to do. We have to drill down into discovering how we can provide the community with access and ensure the people involved are equipped to deal with those issues. I am hopeful that our recommendations will raise some aspects that will assist the Travelling community, because those are the voices that have to be heard.