Vol. 502 No. 3
311 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allocate funding to the North Eastern Health Board towards the provision of respite or residential places for those who require the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7598/99]
The funding of services, such as respite care and residential services, for people with disabilities is a matter for the relevant health board.
This year, a total of £13.4 million additional funding is being provided for the maintenance and development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Of this, £3 million, rising to £6 million on a full year cost basis in the year 2000, is for the development of services and £4 million is for capital projects. The North-Eastern Health Board was allocated £0.270 million for development of services and £0.270 million for capital projects in its functional area. The setting of priorities for the allocation of this funding is a matter for the board in consultation with its Co-ordinating Committee on Physical and Sensory Disability Services.
In relation to services to persons with a mental handicap, additional revenue funding of £12 million is being provided in 1999 for new services, with a full year cost of £18 million in the year 2000.
The additional revenue funding of £18 million will provide 320 new residential places, 80 new respite places, 200 new day places, health related support services for children with autism, the continuation of the programme to transfer persons with a mental handicap from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements and additional specialist and other support services.
Of this funding, £1.273 million was provided to the North-Eastern Health Board in 1999, with a full year cost of £1.595 million in 2000, for the development of new residential-respite places, day places, health related support services for children with autism and the transfer of clients from inappropriate placements. It is estimated that this funding will enable the board, in consultation with its Regional Mental Handicap Co-ordinating Committee, to provide 28 new residential places and seven new respite places.
