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

As there was over €40 million worth of applications into the respite grant application form, which is absolutely massive, they had to spend a lot of time going through it and validating. In fact, the whole purpose of the respite grant is to provide a balance where we have a shortage in our CDNT teams, the local organisations that have the capacity to support through music, art or equine activities and other providers that are able to do the likes of OT or physiotherapy. This is done through various alternative methods. It is completely new to the HSE in that it involves looking away from the medical model completely with a piece that is more about social intervention. He has worked his way through, and we are within a fortnight of that money being launched out, and it will be going nationwide. There is not €40 million in that, trust me. However, at the same time, what is there is all required and supported by the local HSE pieces.

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