Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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199. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will meet with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland to discuss the ongoing funding of neurological services run by its affiliated organisations. [9411/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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200. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will extend funding for the Neurological Alliance of Ireland beyond June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9412/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.

The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were subject to an appraisal process. 55 applications were approved for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. The neurological services run by the affiliated organisations of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, referred to by the Deputy, were not successful on this occasion.

Pobal were asked to undertake the appraisal and management of the scheme and, in that context, put in place a dedicated team to deal with any inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback. Furthermore, an appeals process was put in place, on foot of which Pobal submitted a report, which is currently being considered.

On 18 July 2014, it was announced that bridging funding of €1.4 million would be allocated for a twelve month period to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations that were not approved for funding under the new scheme, pending the carrying out of a review of the public funding of national organisations in the health and disability sector. This bridging funding in 2014/2015 will enable organisations to plan for their future, whether with or without State support, such as that provided under the SSNO. The table outlines the allocations to each of the affiliated organisations of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland in receipt of bridging funding for the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.

It should be noted that the Meningitis Research Foundation, which is also an affiliated organisation of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, was not funded under the previous round of SSNO funding and was not, therefore, included in the organisations for receipt of bridging funding.

The review process is underway and is being advanced in consultation with the Department of Health. The Health Service Executive and Pobal are also participating in the review. All organisations in receipt of bridging funding have been contacted to make submissions as part of the review process. I intend to complete and publish the outcome of the review over the coming months.

With an on-going appeals process for this scheme and a review underway, I would not propose a meeting at this stage. However, submissions in respect of the review were sought from all organisations in receipt of bridging funding and are being considered. Furthermore, a meeting took place on 30 January 2015, attended by my Department, the Department of Health, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland and other organisations on the matters raised by the Deputy.