Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much appreciate the remarks of Deputy Ó Caoláin concerning the very important role RCNI plays. I am aware of that. Without understanding a huge amount of the reasoning behind this, it probably comes down to the fact that since 1 January 2014, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs took over responsibility in this area instead of the Minister for Justice and Equality. It falls under her remit because the Child and Family Agency is within her Department. From a good governance perspective, it is important that where the State is grant aiding organisations, it does so in a clear, transparent way. It would seem that the new director believes the appropriate way to channel the very significant resource, which is not diminishing in any way, is in a way which effectively invites tenders again for longer-term funding rather than the kind of annual funding which most organisations feel to be unfair to them.

The question the Deputy raises is the here and now, as the funding envelope finishes at the end of March and he wants to know what will happen between now and September. The key issue is whether there can be any retrospection when the issue comes, because I do not want to interfere with the tendering process, nor does he. It probably is fair that there should be some interregnum period while the tendering is taking place for accessibility of funding. The Deputy is wondering what happens between now and September, and I would be confident of its later continuation and support. I will raise this issue specifically with the Minister to see exactly what additional support can be given between now and September.

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