Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 7

Written Answers. - Grant Aid.

John Perry

Question:

302 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an organisation (details supplied) in County Sligo provides a vital service to cater for the needs of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that £40,000 was raised due to voluntary fund raising efforts by the committee for the extension needed to the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4981/99]

John Perry

Question:

303 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allocate the necessary funding needed for the extension to a centre (details supplied) in County Sligo to enable the centre to accommodate disabled clients; the funds that will be granted to this service; when funds will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4982/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together.

The provision of health services for people with physical and sensory disabilities in County Sligo is a matter for the North-Western Health Board. Voluntary agencies providing services on behalf of health boards may be grant-aided by a board under section 65 of the Health Act, 1953. 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 agencies in the planning and co-ordination of services and in the identification pf priorities for the development of services. 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 development of services.

This year, a total of £13.4 million additional funding is being provided for the maintenance and development of services in the sector. Of this, £3 million – £6 million on a full year cost basis in the year 2000 – is for development of services and £4 million is for capital projects. From this, the North-Western Health Board was allocated £0.18 million for development of services and £0.18 million for capital projects in its functional area. The allocation of this funding is a matter for the board in consultation with the co-ordinating committee. Accordingly, the matters raised by the Deputy should be taken up, by the agency in question, with the North-Western Health Board.