Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste mentioned in a previous response the eye-watering budget the HSE has at its disposal. Some €5 million was promised in 2023 as part of budget 2024 and was approved by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in December 2024. This budget of €5 million related to transport initiatives, accessibility, provision of minibuses and so forth for people in the disability sector. Organisations like the Galway Centre for Independent Living, Cumas in Wexford, the Irish Wheelchair Association, Variety and the WayFinding Centre in Dublin were waiting on this funding. I am not sure whether it is the case that the €5 million has evaporated or, in the way the HSE tends to do sometimes, has been repurposed. I cannot find an answer as to what has happened to that €5 million. I do not want to have to submit freedom of information requests to the Departments of Health or Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in this regard. I was hoping the Tánaiste might be able to intervene and get answers with regard to this €5 million.

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