Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Topical Issue matter. I raise the issue of funding for the Circle of Friends Cancer Centre in Tipperary town. To provide some background information, when I visited the centre first it was operating in an old building near the railway which was completely unsuitable for the purposes of what the organisation was trying to achieve. With huge voluntary fundraising efforts and donations, as well as Government support, a pristine cancer support centre has been built, which is a real credit to the people of Tipperary and the surrounding areas. For this centre to operate efficiently, it needs funds. Unfortunately, use of the centre has increased dramatically. It is estimated that 1,197 individuals will use the centre's services in 2022, which is a significant number. That figure is expected to double in 2023. The organisation has applied for section 39 funding from the HSE amounting to €98,318. The funding will be used to meet core staffing requirements and provide a cancer support outreach worker, counselling and individual therapies. There is a huge voluntary effort in this organisation, but the professional people who are providing counselling and therapy services have to be paid. They are providing supports such as physiotherapy, financial advice and others for people who have unfortunately been diagnosed with cancer. It would be a tragedy if the organisation were to run into funding difficulties after doing all the hard work in getting the new centre built and up and running. As I mentioned, the centre and its services are widely used by people living in Tipperary town, west Tipperary and County Limerick. It covers a catchment area of over 76,000 people. It is really delivering what it says on the tin. It is providing excellent counselling services in a superb environment. There are beautiful gardens surrounding the centre.

Circle of Friends is getting help from community employment schemes for some of the services that are needed in respect of maintenance at the centre, etc., but the core issue I am raising is the need for funding to maintain the services. I have a detailed budget that I will pass on to the Minister of State, which breaks down the figures. The centre needs €98,318 in funding. I also emphasise strongly that the funding must be provided on a permanent basis. The organisation cannot live from hand to mouth, hoping that it will get funding from the HSE each year. I hope the section 39 funding application is accepted and funding can be provided more regularly and on a permanent basis, so that the organisation knows it will receive the funding it requires to provide its services in the following calendar year. That is imperative. I met with representatives of the organisation on Monday. While it has some financial reserves, they will only cover 12 months of running costs. If this centre is to survive long term, there must be certainty in respect of funding. We cannot talk about value for money when it comes to the provision of cancer support services. They are absolutely essential for people who are unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. I urge the Minister of State to use her influence to get funding for the centre.

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