Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also have the community services programme which works very well. In 2019, €46 million has been allocated for that programme to support more than 400 organisations to deal with many of the issues raised by the Deputy. We also have social enterprises and voluntary groups targeting disadvantage, albeit sometimes they do not fit in with the schemes I have set out. I am carrying out a review of the community services programme and want to protect its community aspect, in particular. At €46 million, the programme receives very significant funding and the 400 organisations and groups it supports do a tremendous job for their communities. I hope some of them might look at the issue of loneliness raised by the Deputy to determine what they could do to support elderly persons.

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