Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept the Deputy's judgment that we have taken an entrenched position. As I indicated, Tusla increased its contributions to ParentStop three times, in addition to the original core funding, to enable it to carry out the excellent work it was doing, as well as to support it in designing a sustainable funding model. I understand a little about the setting up of a voluntary organisation, providing excellent services and looking for ways to grow them, receiving support from different agencies and Departments and perhaps philanthropic sponsors and putting it all together in a sustainable funding model to continue to support the group, organisation, company limited by guarantee or charity, as the Deputy indicated. Tusla has tried to offer financial support in time to ParentStop to assist it in looking for a sustainable funding model. The Deputy asked who was responsible for that model. He also asked whether it was the Government or the organisation which was responsible. They are good questions. I am not saying I would not necessarily meet it, but I know a little about establishing an organisation to meet a need. ParentStop has done a brilliant job in that regard. As I understand it, there are other organisations in County Donegal that also offer parenting supports. Tusla's job is to look at all of the voluntary groups, as well as its own services, and identify that they are meeting the needs of parents and families in County Donegal.

My understanding is that this is an excellent voluntary organisation with an excellent provision of services that has had a challenge in developing a sustainable funding model, with which Tusla has tried to support it.

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