Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and as he will appreciate, the €3 million was the first time we provided this model of funding to the alliance. I have met many of these organisations and I know many of them in my own county. I have met a number of these organisations around the country and the funding was welcomed as an important step. I accept it is a first step. I accept the organisations want to have an ability to be able to plan beyond year to year or beyond having to apply on a recurring basis. Let us now see how we can make that happen in terms of the delivery of the health budget for 2025. The level of investment is very small compared to the level of community investment and I do not think it is too much of an ask from the communities that raise so much that the Government would provide a greater level of certainty of funding for the years ahead. I am happy to work with Deputy Lowry and any like-minded Deputy on this in advance of budget 2025.

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