Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Respite Care Fund.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

196 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will tabulate the expenditure in relation to the respite care fund since the creation of the fund in 1993; if he will outline the circumstances and reasoning, if any, behind the transfer of responsibility for the fund from the then Department of Social Welfare to his Department; when this transfer took place; the way in which the fund has developed under his Department's administration; the plans, if any, which are in train within his Department to develop the application in the community of the respite care fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22597/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The respite care fund was transferred to my Department from the then Department of Social Welfare in 1995. The decision to transfer the scheme was made following a review of funding for voluntary organisations between the then Ministers for Social Welfare and Health. Accordingly, the allocation of £0.5 million in 1995 was transferred from the then Department of Social Welfare to my Department.

In line with the national health strategy, it was decided to allocate all moneys through the health boards which would have the responsibility for administering these schemes on behalf of my Department.

The annual allocation (£0.5 million) is distributed between the health boards as follows:

Health Board	Allocation
	£
Eastern	185,000
Midland	30,000
Mid-Western	40,000
North-Eastern	40,000
North-Western	30,000
South-Eastern	50,000
Southern	75,000
Western	50,000

In general health boards ensure that grants are allocated to community based projects under the following headings:

—mental handicap services, physical disability services, psychiatric services, child care services, women's refuges, personal social services (including information and counselling services);

—at least 80 per cent of the block grant should be allocated to local voluntary groups; and

—that these should not be used in substitution for section 65 grants.

Particular care should be taken to ensure that grants are made available only to viable schemes which will be completed within a reasonable period.