Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate that this is not her brief. The concern is that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, met with SOSAD in November 2024 - Deputy Harkin is correct about that - at which stage a promise was made that interim funding would be given while the process of the HSE governance for applying for funding was in place. That promise was made, but it still has not happened. I do not know if that promise is now not on the table anymore.

I respect and understand there are processes that need to be followed in order that SOSAD is in a position to be funded by the HSE. It is an organisation based on volunteers, however, and a lot of its volunteers are actively counselling. I visited Portlaoise last week and talked to approximately 33 volunteer counsellors in the county. There is not a lot of admin staff. They will be left in a situation, while the process is happening and they are back and forward trying get everything in line for HSE governance, that they will end up closing their doors. I see that as a real problem here. Can we find some kind of intervention in order that SOSAD does not have to close its doors and the 108 people in one week last week will not be left with nowhere to go in two or three weeks’ time if we have to close while we wait?