“Urgent funding supports must be allocated to Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Services” - TD
Independent TD Carol Nolan has secured a commitment from Tánaiste Micheál Martin that he will direct the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, and the HSE to reengage with a funding request from Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Group.
Deputy Nolan raised the matter with Tánaiste during Leaders Questions in the Dáil, today (Thursday.)
The Independent TD called on the Tánaiste to accept that people who have received a cancer diagnosis do not have the luxury of time while HSE multi annual budgets are introduced or efficiencies are found in health spending.
It is understood that representatives from Dochas met with Minister Donnelly along with other members of a cancer support Working Group on September 13 where they impressed on him the seriousness of the funding situation facing the wider collective of Community Cancer Support Centres.
The Department of Health did undertake to speak with the National Cancer Control Programme and also the HSE CHOs to see what funding may be available through them as well as exploring any other avenues for possible once-off funding.
Dochas also submitted a comprehensive Business Case Proposal to the Chief Officer of the HSE’s CHO Area 8:
“I very much welcome the constructive nature of the Tánaiste’s response to my raising of this issue today,” said Deputy Nolan.
“There is an immediate and clear need for Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Service to be supported in line with funding delivered to LARRC in Mullingar and The Cuisle Centre in Portlaoise, both of whom are receiving some Section 39 funding through CHO8, and which Dochas have an excellent and collaborative relationship with for the benefit of the midland counties,” said Deputy Nolan.
“The major concern however is that Dochas is not receiving any funding through CHO area 8. As a consequence, Dochas and the entire Offaly cancer community that relies on it for vital support is now at risk of being placed in a precarious financial and fundraising situation.”
“What is also extremely disappointing however is that as far as I understand it Dochas, after making a substantial and detailed business case for funding received a one-line reply refusing its request.”
As I understand it there has been absolutely no engagement with Dochas on any level despite an invitation for HSE representatives to attend the centre to see the invaluable work it does.”
“The Tánaiste has now clearly indicated to me that he will request a reengagement with the case made by Dochas and that is something I both welcome and will be following up with as a matter of urgency,” concluded Deputy Nolan.