Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Sep 1996

Vol. 469 No. 2

Written Answers. - Health Board Projects.

James Leonard

Question:

37 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the number and quality of the projects submitted by health boards under the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation Fund and Interreg 11 Human Resource Development Programme. [12656/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): As the Deputy is aware funding has been made available for projects under the Community Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the six Border counties of Ireland and the Interreg 11 Resource Development Programme.

Under the Community Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation, funding is provided for projects under a number of headings. Applications by health boards for funding fall under measures 3 (a) and 3 (b) which promote the adoption of co-ordinated approaches by public bodies to common problems. Applications for funding are co-ordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Health boards submitted their proposals under the aegis of Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT), a cross Border initiative undertaken by four boards; the North-Eastern and North-Western Health Boards and the Western and Southern Health and Social Services Boards. I am very satisfied with the number and quality of projects submitted by health boards and I should add that in the first round of grant approvals which took place in July six out of eight proposals submitted by CAWT were approved for funding.

The Department of Enterprise and Employment has the lead role for the INTERREG II Human Resource Development Programme, Training and Education. Health boards submitted six projects for funding under the programme earlier this year, three of which were successful. As with the projects submitted under the Community Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation I am very satisfied with the number and quality of projects submitted by health boards for funding under the programme.