Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy on the section 39 providers right across the country. They provide invaluable services which are not always met by the State but the State supports them to do that. They are really valuable partners to the State on that. I reiterate the commitment of the Department and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to working with the Crann Centre to continue to aid it in providing valuable support to the community, families and children. I think her commitment was given at the meeting with Crann Centre this week. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has been a really wonderful Minister of State with responsibility for disability. She is very proactive and she will use all efforts at her disposal to try to help in whatever way she can.

I will not anticipate the budgetary process but the request has been made and it is noted. I think the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will bring that as part of the package of what she is looking for through the budgetary process. The funding in 2024 has been substantial, with €570,000 from the HSE and I think €400,000 of that is recurring funding so it is not insignificant. I appreciate that running centres that provide such a complex range of services for people makes their overheads and the costs incurred all the more challenging on a yearly basis. I will take the Deputy's comments back to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. We await the ongoing process from the budget.

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