Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Oct 1997

Vol. 482 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospice Funding.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

100 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of development funding provided by his predecessor to the North-Western Health Board in 1997 for specialist hospice services; if he will give a breakdown of how this money has been disbursed; the amount of those additional development funds received in 1997 by Donegal Hospice, Foyle Hospice and the North-West Hospice; the proposals, if any, which have been placed before him to reallocate these development funds which have not been taken up; and how these developments which were not taken up in 1997 have been disbursed. [17475/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

I am informed by the North-Western Health Board that the board's revenue budget allocation for 1997 includes a sum of £450,000 for hospice services in the board's area.

The disbursement of the £450,000 for hospice services in the board's area will be across the following areas:

	£
North-West Hospice:
Home Care Nursing Services	75,000
Residential Unit — Estimated	50,000
Donegal Hospice:
Home Care Nursing Services	20,000
Contribution towards capital cost of new Residential Unit	100,000
Foyle Hospice:
Residential Services	25,000
	270,000

I understand from the board that the balance of the funding, £180,000, will be used to finance the Palliative Care Nursing Services at Sligo and Letterkenny General Hospitals and the board's bereavement counselling service. The board state that the £450,000 will be spent in full and accordingly the question of disbursement of funds does not arise.