Vol. 467 No. 1
159 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the total funding made available in 1996 to the Western Health Board, the Brothers of Charity services and the Galway County Association for the provision of services to persons with a mental handicap; and whether extra funding will be made available for these services, including respite care facilities, residential services, group homes and adult day centres in the Western Health Board region. [12847/96]
The amount of funding made available to the agencies concerned in 1996 is as follows: (a) Western Health Board (Áras Attracta): £3.144 million; (b) Agencies funded by the Western Health Board — Galway County Association £3.992 million, Western Care Association £4,789 million; (c) Brothers of Charity (Western Region) £12.515 million.
Additional revenue funding of £218,333 (£262,000 full year cost) has been made available in 1996 for the further development of services to persons with a mental handicap in the Western Health Board region. The Western Regional Co-ordinating committee on mental handicap, which is representative of the health board, the above mentioned agencies, and families of persons with a mental handicap recommended that this funding should be used in 1996 to provide additional respite care.
In addition, further funding of £70,000 was made available to the Brothers of Charity services in the Galway area which will also enable their services to increase the level of residential and respite care provided by them.
