Reach grants for women's groups
Deputy Mythen raised delays in decisions on Reach grant funding for Women's Collective Ireland and ABI groups in Wexford, saying the uncertainty was upsetting vulnerable service users. The Taoiseach promised to raise the matter with the Minister and follow up with a reply.
I want to bring to the Taoiseach's attention the serious situation concerning Women's Collective Ireland - Wexford. Through the Reach grant, the body held 131 courses and facilitated 1,180 disadvantaged and vulnerable women in Wexford. I was also contacted by Acquired Brain Injury Ireland Wexford and Waterford branch. Both organisations have been told by senior managers that it will take weeks before final decisions on the Reach grant's 2025 budget are made to allocate the funds to the groups. This is causing great upset and disappointment to our most vulnerable citizens, their case managers and volunteers alike, as it is making it impossible for the groups to organise classes and work groups and will set their plans back by as much as six months at a minimum, putting their future in disarray. I would ask the Taoiseach to intervene through the relevant Department and see that the process is fast-tracked for these vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
