Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I hope I am pushing an open door considering his statement that he hopes every effort will be made to ensure the matter is dealt with.

The project is excellent, which the Minister of State accepts. Having been involved in education, I take his point. If the project is closed, vulnerable children will be put at risk immediately. The issue of underachievement must be borne in mind. In some cases, many of the children in question are taken into care. It is important, therefore, that the project be kept open. A key strength of the project is that 60% of the staff are from the immediate locality. If it were an IDA project, we would all be jumping up and down over this.

Let me return to the issue that the Minister of State mentioned, namely, the identification of efficiencies. I have talked to Barbara Quinlan and Kelda Barnes, the manager. By God, they are well able to run the organisation efficiently and professionally.

Historically, the HSE has paid for a manager, deputy manager, part-time cook, part-time cleaner and seven full-time child care staff members, and it has funded 90% of the operating costs associated with the 40 FTE children. However, since 2008 the funding has decreased annually, from €453,744 to €353,784. This no longer fully supports the named staff salaries and no funding is available to meet operational costs as a consequence. I have submitted the figures to the Minister already. It is important that the service be retained.

I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, really to focus on this project, think of the 260 children and the 100 local jobs that are making a valuable contribution to the broader society. The Minister of State should do his best to ensure the centre gets the funding necessary to keep it open.

See this speech in context