Vol. 476 No. 2
85 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will make the necessary funding available from his Department or from the national lottery funds to set up a special workshop to benefit a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of those who could work in this workshop are already attending a workshop in Cork city and are away from their families at night. [6825/97]
Additional funding of £12 million has been provided in 1997 for services to persons with a mental handicap. Two million pounds 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 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. The Southern Health Board is currently finalising a five year plan for the development of services in conjunction with the voluntary mental handicap service providers in the region. Future service development in counties Cork and Kerry will be considered in the context of this plan.
I intend to write to the Deputy with further information about the individual referred to in his question.
