Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have had seven months of uncertainty and disquiet for staff, service users and family members of service users at St. Christopher’s Services in Longford. Figures have been bandied over and back with the HSE. We have been assured that a new funding structure is to be put in place. At the moment, they are running the service with a shortfall of at least €140,000 per month. Staff are due to vote again on a pay agreement that will only take their increments up to 2021, which is far from satisfactory. I understand that funding for the service will run out again in August or September. Can I have an assurance from the House that funding will be put in place to safeguard St. Christopher’s Services?

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