, Limerick East): As the Deputy is aware, substantial additional funding has been made available in recent years for the development of services for persons with a mental handicap or a physical or sensory disability.
Additional funding of £44.58 million invested in the services for people with a mental handicap in the period 1990-95 has enabled health boards to put in place over 1,000 additional residential places and 2,100 day care places. A further £10 million has been made available in 1996. Since 1993, additional funding totalling £15.5 million has been invested in services for people with a physical or sensory disability with emphasis being placed on the development of day care, respite and residential care services as well as therapy services. In 1995, £3 million capital funding was provided for the development of new services and the refurbishment and improvement of existing services. This included £500,000 for aids and appliances.