Vol. 492 No. 4
69 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the expenditure from his Department available to assist the 109 children who are HIV positive and the 11 children who have AIDS; and his views on whether the contribution made by his Department towards these children is appropriate. [14011/98]
Children with HIV or who have AIDS can avail of the normal range of services which are provided in acute hospitals. Specialist services are, however, provided in Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin. Funding for the services in Our Lady's Hospital commenced in 1993, with a sum of £135,000. There has been a steady build up of funding since then with in excess of £3000,000 per annum being assigned to these specialist services.
The services are overseen by a consultant in paediatrics and paediatric infectious diseases with the necessary support staff and they consist of the treatment, counselling and care for antenatal mothers with HIV and for children who are HIV positive or who have AIDS.
