Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I acknowledge he has said he would be open to asking the Minister for a review. That is absolutely crucial here. There is so much frustration about the inequity of the funding. Two other groups in the same CHO were able to qualify for section 39 funding, which is welcome, yet Dóchas was not. Its staff do incredible work, without doubt, and they are badly needed in the county and beyond. They do fantastic work and need support. I understand only a small sum, in the grand scale of things, is needed to keep this service operating. It is obviously disappointing that Dóchas invited representatives of the HSE to the centre to see at first hand the invaluable work done there and the invitation was never accepted by them. It is nothing to do with the Tánaiste, but it is important to say that is what has happened.

How can the HSE look for billions of funding when it is not going to support organisations such as Dóchas in our communities? It is a bit much.

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