Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

The Tánaiste will forgive me for saying that is not good enough, because we have been here. He promised he would make sure it was being provided - not just sanctioned and released but provided. None of these groups have got it. The Tánaiste is absolutely right that they have been in contact this week. I have the letter here. Does he know what it says? The groups need to reapply for short-listing. The Tánaiste's Ministers turned up to Donegal and announced the project. One project got €3 million over a three-year period. It was well deserved for the massive work they are doing. The letter says the funding is not multi-annual and has to be spent in 2025. That commitment is gone. The letter also said funding for the grant scheme is less than originally expected. That is why people have to apply.

It is not just the groups in Donegal. I am a Donegal Deputy and there are four groups in Donegal but there are 54 groups across the State. There are children whose names I do not know who are equally entitled as Jack. It is disgraceful. This is 20 months on and this is emergency funding. Why? Because the HSE is not able to provide the therapies and supports for these families and their kids. I do not know what we have to do to get this money released, but when a government stands up, right or wrong, and promises disability services are getting X amount of money, then it needs to deliver on it. This letter tears up that commitment. The Tánaiste needs to do more than respond to me three months ago and then nothing happens. The communication is worse. Parents are seething at what is happening. It is just not good enough. I am asking the Tánaiste for a commitment he gave here in the Dáil. He said every eligible project, 54 of them, should get the €8 million funding. I am asking him to ensure every single project, including the four announced in Donegal and the levels of funding announced for them, will get the funding they need because these are therapies and support the children and their families so desperately need, 20 months after this was first announced.

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