Mr. Patrick Smyth:

I thank the Senator for the question. I share the sentiments she expressed in her comments about how much we depend on the work that is done by community and voluntary organisations. Tusla spends approximately €200 million of its budget on community and voluntary organisations. That is out of the €5 billion that the State spends in total on community and voluntary supports. We are restricted from the pay perspective in what we can do independent of the rest of the organisation. Through the WRC, I know the State and the community and voluntary organisations had discussions and negotiations across 2023 and 2024. From Tusla's perspective, we have added approximately €16 million to the budget for community and voluntary organisations. That process is ongoing and there will be more money this year.

Under the most recent agreement, I understand there is a commitment to recognise future awards around the specific areas that were negotiated. Part of that is resolved.

The Senator also asked what we can do to support other activities within community and voluntary organisations. That is something we are looking at. We have some important community and voluntary organisations that provide residential care. We recognise that they cannot do that on air. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we have had to increase funding to them to ensure the level of funding they used to get from revenue-raising voluntary support organisations.