asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider his decision concerning the cut-back in the grant to the Irish Pre-School Playgroups Association so that the organisation can retain the services of their national adviser; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pre-School Playgroups Association.
18.
I have made funds available to enable the Eastern Health Board to afford financial assistance to the association in respect of the year 1983-1984 on the same general level as afforded to the association in the previous year. The board will not be in a position to determine the amount of further assistance necessary until such time as it obtains and examines the audited accounts of the association for the year ended 31 March 1983 and projected accounts for the year commencing 1 April 1983.
It is anticipated that the funds available will be sufficient to maintain the association's services at last year's level, also enabling them to continue the employment of their national adviser.
Will the Minister indicate the funds being made available to the association? Is the Minister aware that the association will not be able to continue to employ their national adviser with the funding he is providing?
In February 1982 out of the overall global allocation it was proposed to give a grant of £16,000 to the Irish Pre-School Playgroups Association from the then extra allocation. The Eastern Health Board made an additional payment to the association in March 1982 and the board, having examined the association's projected deficit for the year ending 31 March 1983, decided that the remaining £10,000 of the grant should be paid as follows: £5,844 to cover a projected deficit at 31 March 1983 and £4,156 towards defraying the association's expenses in the current year. The information I have is that it is anticipated that the funds available to the board will be sufficient to maintain the association's services at last year's level and enable them to continue their employment of a national adviser. I do not know what the initial payment was but certainly there has been diminution in the overall payment to the association.
I take it that the Minister is stating that the minimum of £16,000 which was available last year will be available this year and that it will be sufficient to cater for the payment of a national adviser? Will the Minister agree that in recognition of part of his reply to Question No. 17, about the registration of these schools, it is essential that such an adviser is appointed and paid for out of public funds?
I accept what the Deputy has said. The association have done pioneering work in the role of providing guidance on the establishment and operation of groups. Recently officers from the Department met representatives of the association and the question of funding was discussed. My understanding is that the matter was resolved to the satisfaction of the association.