Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

iCARE, which is based on the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal, has been in existence for 24 years. It provides a vital service to children and young people with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities. Most of iCARE's funding comes from community fundraising. Along with Bluestack Special Needs Foundation in south Donegal, iCARE has campaigned for years for core funding from the State to allow it to continue to run services. It got some funding after a protracted campaign but not enough. Recently, there was an announcement of millions under the children's disability service grant fund. That was allocated to organisations, including those in Donegal, but those in iCARE had no idea there was substantial funding made available. Nobody told them and they are really angry, so I ask that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, meet with iCARE and Bluestack Special Needs Foundation to give them once and for all the core funding they need so they do not need to go fundraising every year to provide these vital services.

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