Section 39 funding delay
Deputy Murnane O'Connor complained that promised section 39 funding for disability and care services had not yet reached providers. The issue was taken up again at the end, when the Taoiseach said he would speak to the Health Minister.
As the housing crisis worsens, severe pressure on emergency accommodation is becoming insurmountable. Homeless families are being sent further and further away to bed and breakfasts outside of their hometowns and catchment areas. A huge chunk of their already very low income is being swallowed up by expensive transport costs in order to make sure their children keep attending their local school with their local friends. What is the Government’s policy to provide financial assistance towards the cost of transport for the purpose of homeless children being able to attend their own schools from which they were dramatically shunted?
Comment on this
Budget 2023 proposed €65 million for section 39 funding and yet I am still waiting to see any action on that funding. I met with representatives from Holy Angels in Carlow this week. As the Taoiseach knows, the funding is to support community-based voluntary organisations in the provision of disability, nursing home and hospital services across the country. I was told the funding would be there by the middle of the month. We are now in the middle of the month but I spoke to the HSE last week. I rang them and they told me that they had received no funding and they were not aware of when it was coming. As the Taoiseach knows, section 39 organisations depend on this really good funding that was announced in the budget. I ask that it be given out as soon as possible.