Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I am stating that this is what the Minister and the Minister of State want to do. Health funding has increased in the past two years. There was a significant increase in this year's budget. Each year, we are in a better position to provide services and, hopefully, to improve them, although I am conscious that there are also increased demands on those services. For a long number of years, the service was not funded properly and the desire of both Ministers is certainly to improve that situation and to fund it where they can to create a better and enhanced service. They also desire to work with the voluntary sector. The Deputies are absolutely right that voluntary organisations provide excellent work and give great value for taxpayers' money when they do get funding. That is well recognised and hopefully tomorrow's meeting will be fruitful in that regard.

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