€2.8m in once-off funding for Louth’s voluntary and community providers

Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, has welcomed news that over €2.8m in one off funding will be delivered to voluntary and community providers in County Louth over the coming weeks.

In Budget 2023, government announced funding to assist various sectors with costs related to energy inflation, including €100 million targeted at a range of health funded bodies, the monies today have been allocated from this “inflation fund”.

O’Dowd said:

“A total of 87 community and voluntary health and social care providers in Louth will receive payments over the coming weeks from the HSE ranging from €1,000 to €1.6m.

“Recipients in Louth include €1.6m for Saint John of God Community Services, €227k for Praxis Care, €146k for the Rehab Group Community Support, €117 for the Irish Wheelchair Association and €57k for the Order of Malta Regional Services in Drogheda.

Announcing the funding today Minister Stephen Donnelly said:

“Voluntary organisations play absolutely vital roles in providing frontline services to the most vulnerable in our society: people with disabilities, older people, those suffering from addiction, mental health problems and life-limiting illnesses. Many of these service providers have faced serious pressures in light of high inflation in 2022.

"I hope that this additional once-off funding will go some way towards recognising those costs."

O’Dowd added:

“The extortionate inflation we have seen over the last two years has led to our local frontlines community and voluntary services facing huge pressures.

“All eligible organisations will shortly receive a letter from the HSE confirming the amount that they will receive and the terms of the fund.”