Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
816. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department of the HSE set the €100,000 funding limit for FASD Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33277/26]
View answerThe Department of Children, Disability and Equality is responsible for the provision of supports to children with complex health needs associated with a disability.
While the Department sets the strategy, policy direction and overall allocation for the disability sector, funding allocations to individual service providers is an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority.
An application was received by the HSE in January 2026 from FASD Ireland and the HSE met with FASD Ireland to discuss this proposal on 26th March 2026. The HSE informed FASD Ireland that it could provide funding of approximately €100,000 for the period Q2–Q4 of 2026, subject to services aligning with the HSE service plan.
On 8 April 2026, Minister Higgins and a representative from the Tánaiste’s office met with the CEO of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Ireland. At this meeting, FASD Ireland agreed to submit an updated plan outlining the services to be delivered for Q2–Q4 2026.
On the 9th of April 2026, FASD Ireland CEO Tristan Casson-Rennie forwarded a business case to the HSE as requested in previous meetings.
Upon review, the HSE wrote to FASD Ireland on 15 April 2026, stating that it would be unable to provide funding for the Children’s Disability Network Teams Training or the individual support plan as outlined in the business case as training capacity is extremely limited across teams for 2026 and the HSE must ensure it aligns with agreed priorities.
The HSE did however agree to provide once off funding of €27,150 for the continuation of the FASD Hub Ireland Helpline service.
On the 1st of May 2026, Minister Higgins held a further meeting online with FASD Ireland, the HSE and DCDE.
In this meeting FASD Ireland agreed to submit a new proposal identifying services they can provide for Q2-Q4 2026 in addition to the telephone service.
