Vol. 481 No. 5
34 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number and names of voluntary groups he has met in recent weeks as part of the pre-budget process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16502/97]
As part of the budgetary process my Department organised a pre-budget forum, which was held on 3 October 1997. Twenty-six voluntary organisations were invited and 24 attended. Each organisation gave an oral presentation of the concerns and priorities that they would like to see addressed on the December budget. The organisations that attended were:
1. Conference of Religious of Ireland
2. TREOIR
3. National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland
4. National Federation of Pensioners Associations
5. Tallaght Welfare Society
6. Carer's Association
7. Society of St. Vincent de Paul
8. National Association of Widows in Ireland
9. Disability Federation of Ireland
10. Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed
11. Irish Widowers and Deserted Husbands Association
12. Women in the Home
13. Forum of People with Disabilities
14. CROSSCARE (Catholic Social Service Conference — Dublin)
15. Family Solidarity
16. Irish Countrywomen's Association
