Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We appreciate the witnesses' engagement on these important matters. I raise the funding scheme for section 39 providers. One provider that I have supported locally is Western Care, which does a fantastic job. It is experiencing serious issues providing the quantum of service it is contractually agreed to provide with the funding provided by the HSE. It is not authorised by the HSE or its board to exceed the level of service provision in the absence of adequate funding. However, demand for services is increasing and applications for funding are not being addressed.

Western Care has experienced serious financial difficulties in recent years. The cost of service provision exceeds the funding received by the HSE, which is leaving it in a position where it has no option but to implement cost containment measures. That is having a huge negative impact on those most in need of the services and their families. Demand for services is increasing and applications for funding are not being addressed. Western Care has told me it has submitted over 135 business cases to the HSE, with a value of €11 million, over the past three years and the HSE has responded to very few of them. How is the HSE dealing with specific requests for additional funding from service providers such as Western Care?