Ms Lily Power:

Multi-annual funding would make a huge difference to many organisations of varying sizes. There have been examples of it happening. It has been trialled in certain areas of Tusla and the Department of justice, and it is making things so much easier for those organisations to plan staffing and their own work. There are rules about the reserves that organisations can hold. It can be really difficult to have any forward planning, especially when running these really important services and schemes on early intervention and it can be impossible to plan for the future or even the end of the year in some cases. It also adds to the compliance burden of the organisation. Many organisations are working with limited staff resources on those things specifically. They are being funded just for the services and supports they provide, that is the core costs. It is something we think is very achievable and something the Government has recognised as valuable in its own work. The programme for Government refers to it in relation to Sláintecare and health planning. We believe that is something very achievable that would make a huge difference to many organisations.