Limerick East): The provision of financial assistance to voluntary organisations providing services to persons with a mental handicap and their families in the midland region is a matter in the first instance for the Midland Health Board. The organisation referred to by the Deputy should, therefore, contact the health board with any proposals which it may wish to have considered for funding.
The allocation of the additional funding for new services within the health board area is agreed by the regional mental handicap co-ordinating committee, which is representative of the health board, the voluntary service providers and parents and families of persons with a mental handicap, on the basis of priority need.