Vol. 421 No. 4
206 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will respond positively to the application from AIDS Care Education and Training, for grant aid to establish a practical home care service to people affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.
In my capacity as chairman of the National AIDS Strategy Committee I have been conducting a major review of AIDS/HIV services nationally. Primary care and management of persons infected with the virus and education and prevention strategies, have been identified by the committee in reports which I have had published recently. These include home and family support services. These reports are now being implemented and investment in this process is ongoing as the Government have made available substantial additional resources for AIDS/HIV services this year. It is in that context and having regard to the need to have an integrated and effectively managed service that any application for funds for HIV/AIDS services will be considered. Given the co-ordinating role of the health boards in the delivery of services at regional level an application for financial support by the AIDS Care Education and Training Organisation should in the first instance be addressed to the relevant health board. I have in fact conveyed this directly to the organisation.
