Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
585. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside dedicated funding to secure multi-annual funding for the support of the community and voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49870/23]
View answerThere currently exist a range of legislative barriers to the introduction of multi annual funding on the basis that the Oireachtas only votes current expenditure to individual Government departments for a single year at a time. This in turn translates into the legislative provisions under the Health Act 2004 (as amended) where the Department confirms the funding determination to the HSE each year, post Budget, to inform the development of the HSE's National Service Plan. This funding allocation and service planning process only occurs on a planning horizon of a single year at a time.
I will shortly be issuing a Letter of Determination to the HSE outlining my priorities and funding levels for 2024 including funding for the Community and Voluntary Sectors. This will be the basis on which the HSE will draw up its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024.
