Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)

In rural and urban areas, support groups provide an important service, particularly for those living alone or who are elderly and need support. It is important that, in reviewing those supports, there is work done across the Departments of Health and Social Protection to ensure that those groups get support to help those who need care and assistance, be they in urban or rural areas. It is something that needs to be co-ordinated to a far greater scale that it has before. Much work was done, particularly during Covid, and it is important that we continue and ensure that does not in slip in any way. We should not just take it that everyone is well able to look after himself or herself. That is not the case and is why we need to have those supports in place.

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