Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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471. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans for additional funding for the disability participation and awareness fund in 2023/2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41002/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm for the Deputy that I will be seeking funding as part of Budget 2024 for a further iteration of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund. The exact provision of funding to be made available in 2024 will be dependent on the outcome of the annual budgetary process.

To date, I am delighted to say that the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund has supported a wide range of projects and initiatives across the country, with funding of €2.5m approved in the first year of the Fund in 2021, supporting projects across all 31 Local Authorities. Further funding of €3m was approved to support a range of initiatives under a budget allocation secured in 2022, and a further tranche of funding of €3.5m is available to support projects in 2023.

The Disability Participation and Awareness Fund is designed to support the active participation of people with disabilities in local activities, to help remove barriers to community involvement and to support the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in communities. The fund provides opportunities to apply for grant supports relating to this purpose.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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472. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when funding will be provided for support staff to enable a person to live independently (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41008/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.