The society requested an increase of €300,000 in its funding at a recent meeting with me. Having considered the request, I was pleased to inform the Dáil last week that I intend to provide an additional €300,000 to the society next year to enable it to enhance the services it provides to persons with haemophilia. As well as funding for the support groups, the provision of targeted funding for the development of primary care and hospital services has also been recognised by the support groups as being an important element in the overall model of services for persons with hepatitis C. My Department, and successive Ministers for Health and Children, have reiterated the commitment to provide sufficient funding for the continued development of services for persons with hepatitis C and HIV. The consultative council on hepatitis C and the support groups are agreed that funding to date has been satisfactory and they look forward to the continued provision of funding at a level sufficient to maintain and develop services which are responsive to emerging needs.