Vol. 475 No. 5
109 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction a project (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which this will be done; the amount of money to be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5484/97]
The provision of services to persons with a mental handicap in the County Galway area is a matter in the first instance for the Western Health Board.
As the Deputy is aware, additional funding of £12 million has been provided in 1997 for services to persons with a mental handicap. £2 million is being used to meet identified needs in existing services. The remaining £10 million is being used to put in place new services, including additional residential places and day care services.
Details of the precise services to be put in place in each health board region and the individuals who will benefit from these services will be agreed by the regional mental handicap co-ordinating committees in line with the priority needs which have been identified for each region. Details of the funding which is to be made available to each health board region for new services in 1997 will shortly be notified to the boards.
