asked the Minister for Health the budgets of (a) the Medico-Social Research Board and (b) the Medical Research Council of Ireland for each year from 1980 to 1987 inclusive; the budget of the Health Research Board for 1988 and 1989; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that repeated assurances were given to these bodies that there would be no major reduction in the overall budget of the amalgamated body; and if he will review as a matter of urgency, his policy decision to cut over £1,000,000 from the Health Research Board's budget.
Written Answers. - Medical Research Budget.
179.
The allocation to the Medical Research Council and the Medico-Social Research Board for the years 1980 to 1986 were as follows:
|
(a) |
(b) |
|
|
Year |
Medical Research Council |
Medico-Social Research Board |
|
£m |
£m |
|
|
1980 |
0.650 |
0.470 |
|
1981 |
0.780 |
0.643 |
|
1982 |
0.900 |
0.750 |
|
1983 |
1,125 |
0.880 |
|
1984 |
1.275 |
0.980 |
|
1985 |
1.310 |
1.060 |
|
1986 |
1.430 |
1.098 |
The allocation to the Health Research Board for each of the years 1987 and 1988 is £2.3 million.
The allocation of £1.3 million to the board which is set out in the Book of Estimates for 1989 is part of Government decisions in relation to the overall funding of the health service for next year.
I gave no assurances that the Health Research Board, or indeed any other health agencies, would not be subject to Government decisions in relation to resource allocation.