Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to be very clear about State intervention here. At the outset, I want to acknowledge the excellent work of those who provide the voluntary services the Deputy referenced in his constituency and throughout the country. I wan to be very clear about State intervention here. Over the last three years, just short of €900 million has been provided through core funding by the State. It is unprecedented; it was never done before. It is an unparalleled resource of funding going into these services. This past year alone, it is at a level of €331 million, as I said. In addition to that, there are other interventions by the State, such as the building blocks extension programme, with €25 million available to providers where they can apply to provide for extensions or whatever.

As I already referenced, a specific €45 million additional was provided to support employers meet the cost of wage increases. Again, it is an unprecedented intervention by the State. In total, into the sector the Deputy referenced, €1.37 billion is being invested, which was never before done by the State. It is quite staggering.

See this speech in context