asked the Minister for Health the plans he has to ensure that services for the mentally handicapped will be maintained at 1985 levels; and if he is aware of the concern of the voluntary organisations that they will be unable to maintain services at 1985 levels.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Services for Mentally Handicapped.
37.
I am aware of the concern expressed by non-statutory organisations with the level of funding provided in 1986. Where budgeting problems are envisaged the situation is being assessed and meetings are continuing between my Department and representatives of the organisations concerned. I wish to reassure the Deputy that all possible steps will be taken to ensure that, even at a time when constraints on public expenditure have had to be imposed, services for people with a mental handicap will be protected to the maximum possible extent.
May I take it that the Minister intends to make an extra allocation to those voluntary organisations who find that they are unable to maintain services at the 1985 level?
Meetings between the finance unit of the Department of Health and the individual organisations have been going on for the past month and there are several more meetings lined up in connection with the budgets of these organisations. With very little exception, I have been pleased with the extent to which the organisations have been facilitated. I was concerned about one incident, relating to Bawnmore in Limerick, where circulars were issued which in my view should not have been issued and which were withdrawn by the organisation concerned. That matter has been resolved in a reasonable manner. I regret that some public disquiet was caused in that area — not by me, of course. I can assure the Deputy that we have been more than sensitive in ensuring that the budgets are kept fully intact.
On a point of order——
On priority questions it is only the Deputy who puts down the question who can ask supplementary questions. I am sorry, Deputy.