Vol. 463 No. 5
80 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health the funding, if any, that is provided by his Department for the annual operating costs of hospice beds; if so, the total funding provided for this service in 1996; and the allocation made to each health board or hospice movement. [6828/96]
Limerick East): I refer the Deputy to my answer to a previous Parliamentary Question (No. 16882/95) which set out annual funding for hospice services in the years 1990 to 1995.
Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross, is the only hospice service which is funded directly by my Department and its 1996 revenue allocation is £5.964 million.
As the Deputy is aware, funding for other hospice services is channelled through the local health boards and discussions are currently taking place between my officials and the eight health boards regarding their 1996 service-development plans. Until this process is completed, the health boards will not be in a position to finalise their 1996 service allocations.
