Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are now over two years into the programme for Government yet the transfer of specialist disability services from the Department of Health to the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has still not taken place. Yesterday the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, confirmed that this transfer would take place on 1 March next year but failed to clarify whether the €65 million in one-off funding which was promised in September's budget would be distributed to services before this date. Both Ministers, Deputy Donnelly and Deputy O'Gorman, have told services that the release of the funding is depending on the transfer. These services are in a precarious situation with increased energy costs, operational costs with staff leaving for better pay and conditions elsewhere and the services need clarity on the release of the funding. If its release is depending on the transfer of services which we are told will not happen until 1 March 2023 that will have serious and devastating consequences in regard to the delay these services are facing into the new year without much-needed funding. I know the Tánaiste aspires to higher offices at the end of the week, but will he ensure that the one-off funding is immediately released and that the moneys will include community and voluntary services which are not section 38 and 39 organisations?

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