Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It was a very stark presentation. I have raised this issue with the Minister previously. I thank her for her presence. There are 13 services looking at potentially closing in September 2018 and seven of those are concerned they will have to close this September. They offer a vitally important service to children aged from naught to three years. It is at that age that early intervention is most crucial and makes the most difference. I anticipate the Minister will say she announced €1 million in sustainability funding, which is welcome. There are longer term issues.

On the €1 million funding, the latest position is that services received contracts on 24 March and were asked to return them. They were asked the same thing and received the same forms well over a month ago. This funding was announced back in January and February at the latest. The services have not been in a position to draw down any of that funding. The services have had to borrow, use their own savings and come up with all sorts of arrangements just to keep the thing on the road. They need to be able to access, in the first instance, the funding that has been committed to but which they cannot get their hands on. That is the most crucial issue to ensure these are sustainable even into the summer.

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