Vol. 498 No. 4
289 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make available funding for the construction of a resource centre for people with physical disabilities in Cork city, the cost of which is £250,000 of which £53,000 has already been provided, leaving a shortfall of nearly £200,000. [27321/98]
290 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that nearly 100 people with physical disabilities in Cork city are awaiting places at the Cork resource centre; and if he will make a statement on the proposals, if any, he has to deal with this urgent issue. [27322/98]
291 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Wheelchair Association has to depend on a single unit dwelling at 4 Lotamore Drive, Mayfield, County Cork, to provide day resource services for people with a physical disability and that there are nearly 100 people with physical disabilities awaiting places at the resource centre; and the proposals, if any, he has in this regard. [27323/98]
292 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is not possible to meet the needs and provide services to people with physical disabilities from 4 Lotamore Drive, Mayfield, County Cork, which can only accommodate six wheelchair users; and the proposals, if any, he has to do to deal with this matter. [27324/98]
297 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to reports that 1,248 disabled people are not getting out of their homes on a regular basis; the plans, if any, he has to supply the funds to organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association in order to provide services including a two day per week local resource centre service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27359/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 289, 290, 291, 292 and 297 together.
The funding of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, such as the day resource centre mentioned by the Deputies, is a matter for the relevant health board.
The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, which was published in December 1996 sets out the requirements for the development of these services, including day care/resource services. As recommended in the report, regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services, on which the voluntary agencies and people with disabilities are represented, have been put in place in each of the health boards. One of the primary functions of the co-ordinating committees is to advise health boards on priorities for the allocation of funds available for the development of the services. The Southern Health Board is aware of the proposal to build a new premises for the day resource service at Mayfield in Cork. A capital grant for this project is one of the items which will be discussed by the Southern Health Board co-ordinating committee in the context of the allocation of capital funding in 1999.
