Mr. Bernard O'Regan:

Saint John of God served notice to the HSE a number of years ago. We agreed a process that has been ongoing and that concluded last October. There is a report and a set of recommendations that we are reviewing both within the HSE and with the Department.

It is important to say that the HSE has been providing substantial additional funding to the Saint John of God community services. If memory serves me right, that is in the order of €11.5 million per annum, additional to the budget that was provided to it. We will continue to provide support to the organisation. We have engaged with it consistently in reviewing its ongoing budgetary position with a view to ensuring that it always has access to the funding it needs to meet its liabilities. We are doing that with many organisations. It is not the only one. However, we have been providing and maintaining that funding. There are ongoing engagements at the moment within the HSE, including meetings today and tomorrow in light of the correspondences that the organisation has issued. We will meet with the organisation again to try to progress matters. However, I am conscious of the concerns that are there for all of the people the Deputy mentioned. The HSE position is really clear; we will do everything we can to maintain services for people. That has involved many different things in different areas. Sometimes it has been about funding, sometimes organisations have looked to partner with other organisations. Sometimes that has meant the HSE stepping in. The Saint John of God community services are a very significant service provider.

It has a long tradition of providing services. We will do everything we can to ensure we can continue to support services. Whether that is, and it is to be hoped it is, through the Saint John of God Community Services or through some other arrangements, we will maintain services for people, but I appreciate the worry and concern that has been created.