Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It goes without saying that there is not a group in the community and voluntary sector that will not speak of the need for multi-annual funding. I welcome the Minister of State's point that the group is cross-departmental. That is necessary. I am thinking of the likes of the Family Addiction Support Network, which is falling between stools and which, unfortunately, could face closure within the next year.

I have another question related to community centres. I have spoken to the Minister of State previously about Muirhevnamor Community Centre and the great work it does. We need to look at ways of providing long-term sustainability. Blackrock Haggardstown Community Centre applied for CSP funding but failed to secure it, even on appeal, on the basis of displacement. It says it now has an insufficient number of staff to do business. It cannot get enough staff through community employment or Tús and is looking at possible closure. That would be a particularly detrimental to the local community. I ask the Minister of State to engage with the organisation.

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