Vol. 500 No. 7
297 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to establish an assessment and treatment centre with all the paramedical support staff at Waterford Regional Hospital; when the submission for capital funding for the assessment and training centre for the financial year 1999 was received in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4809/99]
The provision of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities in the Waterford area is a matter for the South-Eastern Health Board. I am aware that the board has been discussing with all those concerned the establishment of a regional assessment and treatment centre for children and adults with physical and sensory disabilities in the Waterford area.
With a view to the coherent future development of services, the report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, "Towards an Independent Future", recommended the structured involvement of voluntary services providers in the planning, co-ordination and identification of priorities for the development of services in this sector. To this end, co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services, on which the voluntary agencies are represented, have been put in place in each health board. One of the functions of the co-ordinating committees is to advise the health boards on priorities for the allocation of funds available for the developments of services. Of £3 million – £6 million is the full year cost in the year 2000 – revenue and £4 million capital made available this year for the development of these services, £0.3 million revenue and £0.3 million capital has been allocated to the South-Eastern Health Board. The board will decide on priorities for the allocation of this funding in consultation with its co-ordinating committee.
