Pádraic McCormack
Question:346 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health if he will give the basis of the calculation of the sums allocated to each health board from national lottery funding, totalling £1.66 million.
Written Answers. - National Lottery Funds.
A proportion of the Health Allocation of national lottery funds is allocated to health boards each year as a block grant, mainly for distribution to voluntary agencies operating in their areas. The criteria used in apportioning amounts between health boards have regard to the population of each board and the extent to which voluntary managed community facilities are developed within each board's area. In the case of the Eastern Health Board account is taken also of other lottery funds paid in direct grants to Dublin based national organisations with significant levels of activity in the Eastern Health Board area. The distribution of the block grants in 1993 is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Amount |
|
£ |
|
|
Eastern |
310,000 |
|
Midland |
165,000 |
|
Mid-Western |
200,000 |
|
North-Eastern |
200,000 |
|
North-Western |
165,000 |
|
South-Eastern |
208,000 |
|
Southern |
212,000 |
|
Western |
200,000 |
It should be noted that in disbursing these funds health boards must adhere to the guidelines laid down by my Department. The guidelines are as follows:— Grants may be allocated to community based projects under the headings: mental and physical handicap, the elderly, psychiatric services, child care services, personal social services (including information and counselling services); at least 70 per cent of the block grant should be allocated to voluntary groups; grants from the block allocation should not be used in substitution for section 65 grants. Particular care should be taken to ensure that grants are made only to viable schemes which will be completed within a reasonable period. The health boards should take particular care to assess the ongoing revenue implications in determining the priority of schemes.