Vol. 469 No. 1
170 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, there are to allocate adequate funding to Mayo Rape Crisis Centre to ensure that the centre can continue to operate and re-establish the services it has had to curtail due to lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17123/96]
257 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate funds to the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre which is handling a large amount of very difficult cases and in view of the fact that the centre is in need of financial support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16840/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 257 together.
In line with a recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women arrangements have been put in place to ensure that secure multi-annual funding is now provided through health boards to rape crisis and sexual abuse counselling centres-services nationwide. The arrangements introduced are designed to assist in the establishment of close liaison between the centres and the boards and result in the provision of a more comprehensive service to the victims of rape and sexual abuse.
The Western Health Board is responsible for the delivery of health services in its functional area, which includes County Mayo, and has provided statutory funding of £20,000 in 1996 to the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre towards the provision of its services.
I understand that the centre has made an application to the board for additional funds totalling approximately £28,000 for 1996 and that the board is in discussion with representatives of the centre regarding this application.
