Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is important to say that in budget 2024, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and I secured for the first time ever the largest budget for respite, which was €15 million. In a full year, that is €25 million for respite alone. Therefore, we have a very ambitious plan in 2024.

The alternative respite services, such as Little Wonders and Kilbixy Paddocks, provide alternatives on Saturdays and after-school services. We need to add capacity and support those providers. In fact, we need to be ambitious and encourage more providers to come into that space in the after-schools or Saturday clubs piece.

I have no doubt but that Edel Quinn will come back to the Deputy on that issue. She always does her absolute damnedest to support families where she can, particularly with the scheduled care requirement. Finally, the Enable Ireland team is in the Deputy's area. We advertised a recruitment campaign for which 500 people have applied. The interviews are starting now so, hopefully, I will get to meet representatives from Enable Ireland in the next week to see how it is supporting its 20 CDNTs nationally on that drive.

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