John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Seas Suas and other organisations at the coalface of the delivery of this service are saying that the funding is insufficient. It is misleading to compare the allocation this year to that in previous years because the funding in place previously was insufficient and providers must now deal with the substantially greater issues raised by Covid-19 and the regulations. The representative bodies referred to the excess red tape and bureaucracy around this which they wish to be lessened. The Department is not comparing like with like in the context of funding this year and previous years. Providers need substantial financial support if they are to reopen and remain open.