Mary Coughlan
Question:74 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Health if national lottery funding will be provided in 1996 to the North West Hospice, Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23080/96]
Written Answers. - Sligo Hospice Funding.
John Ellis
Question:79 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction a contribution from his remaining 1996 discretionary national lottery funds to the North West Hospice, Sligo. [23286/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 79 together.
The question of funding for the North West Hospice is a matter for the North-Western Health Board in the first instance. With regard to national lottery funding, each of the health boards receives a portion of the overall national lottery funds available to the health services as a block allocation. These allocations are then distributed by the boards to local voluntary bodies operating in their areas. In 1996 the North-Western Health Board paid £20,000 of it's national lottery allocation to the North West Hospice. All lottery funding has been allocated for 1996.
The Deputies will be aware that since taking office I have identified cancer as one of my major priorities and in this regard on Tuesday, 5 November 1996 I announced a set of initiatives for the future reorganisation of cancer services throughout the country. These initiatives include proposals for the development of specialist palliative care so that the development of this service will best meet the needs and personal preferences of patients with cancer or long-term conditions. A national cancer forum will also be established to co-ordinate services and to provide detailed advice on the development of palliative care services nationally. This forum will have consumer representation.
All health boards will now draw up a set of priorities for the development of palliative care services in their areas. I understand that the planning process is already well under way in the North-Western Health Board and that a report on hospice services in the board's area, in the context of the recommendations in the national cancer strategy, is being prepared for consideration by the health boards' standing committees at their meetings in December 1996. The North-Western Health Board has advised me that the board's priorities will address the role, function and funding for the voluntary organisations, the North West Hospice and the Donegal/Foyle Hospice, in the proposed future organisation of the services in the board's area.