Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Nov 1987

Vol. 375 No. 4

Written Answers. - National Social Service Board Services.

212.

Miss Flaherty

asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the manner in which he proposes to continue each of the following services currently provided by the National Social Service Board and the cost savings which will accrue in: (a) service to groups wishing to set up a community information centre (b) training services for volunteers in CICs (c) provision of publicity material for CICs (d) organisation of national publicity for CICs (e) provision and updating of information files on a wide range of statutory and voluntary services, not just health and social welfare, to CICs (f) provision and updating of these same files on a subscription basis, to a wide range of statutory and voluntary bodies (g) provision of grants to CICs (h) direct information service to voluntary bodies, statutory bodies and the public (i) publication and distribution of entitlements for the elderly, directory of national voluntary organisations and other NSSB publications and (i) publication and distribution of Relate, a monthly information bulletin.

213.

Mr. Allen

asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the manner in which he proposes to continue each of the following services currently provided by the National Social Service Board and the cost savings which will accrue in: (a) provision of a group insurance scheme availed of by voluntary organisations, (b) assistance to voluntary organisations all over the country in devising and organising training courses for members (c) direct provision of a wide range of courses, availed of by hundreds of organisations who have sent up to 1,000 people a year on these courses, (d) provision of posters for local use by voluntary organisations (e) provision of the national resource of an audio-visual library of training material, used by voluntary and statutory bodies, (f) organisational advice and assistance to people setting up new national voluntary groups, and to existing groups and (g) advice and assistance to those seeking to develop structures to co-ordinate voluntary effort.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. All of the services currently being provided by the National Social Service Board will be maintained. Details of these arrangements will be announced shortly.

Since the alternative arrangements envisage enhanced services within a broader context of community development, it is not possible to quantify the savings on the current level of services.