Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join Deputy Danny Healy-Rae in acknowledging the extraordinary work that Kerry Parents and Friends Association provides. It provides critical services to adults with intellectual disabilities in the Deputy’s constituency, including day services, residential services, respite and outreach services. I am advised that the association has identified funding challenges to the HSE due to the changing service user needs, specifically the additional home supports that they are providing. I understand the association is currently facing issues in fundraising to supplement the current HSE funding.

It is relevant to say that the HSE - or the State or Government - currently funds the association to the tune of €13.6 million, so there is a significant amount of Government funding allocated to the association for the fantastic work it does. Discussions on all these issues are ongoing with the disability team in CHO 4. It is also relevant to point out that this organisation was one of the first 50 section 39 organisations to benefit from the first phase of the pay restoration since 2019. As the Deputy will be aware, there has been an ask for pay restoration in line with the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation from the section 39 organisations. The Government started with 50 organisations, based broadly on size and some other criteria, and the association was in that first group of 50. I know that has made a big difference.

More generally, I am mindful of the significant challenges faced by section 39 organisations right throughout the country. They are funded by the Government to provide vital services to communities in the areas of disability, mental health, older persons, palliative care, social inclusion and other areas. Energy and transport costs, as well as wider inflation pressures, are presenting specific issues. To that end. the Government has created a €100 million fund for this winter and organisations such as this will be recipients of funding from that allocation.

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