Vol. 502 No. 3
363 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount spent by each health board on aids and appliances for people with disabilities for each of the years from 1997 to 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7982/99]
The data sought by the Deputy is not routinely gathered by my Department. I am having inquiries made of the health boards and I will communicate further with the Deputy in the matter.
However, having regard to the recommendations of the report, Towards an Independent Future, this Government, since taking office, has made almost £37 million available by way of additional funding to the physical and sensory disability sector. This includes special allocations for the provision of aids and appliances by way of Supplementary Estimate in 1997 and 1998 totalling £8.325 million and almost £1 million from the capital programme last year. The amount allocated to each health board from these sources is given in the attached table. I should point out that the bulk of the money in 1997 was channelled via the Eastern Health Board to national voluntary organisations, providing services in the sector, which are headquartered in the board's area.
This year, additional funding of £13.4 million has been allocated for the maintenance and development of services in the sector including capital supports. However, it is not possible to say at this stage what amount of this funding will be spent on aids and appliances.
|
Health Board |
1997£4.325 millionSupplementaryEstimate |
1998Capital Programme |
1998£4.0 millionSupplementaryEstimate |
Total |
|
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
|
|
Eastern |
3.374 |
0.360 |
1.504* |
5.238 |
|
Midland |
– |
0.062 |
0.234 |
0.296 |
|
Mid-Western |
0.115 |
0.080 |
0.312 |
0.507 |
|
North-Eastern |
– |
0.093 |
0.351 |
0.444 |
|
Health Board |
1997£4.325 millionSupplementaryEstimate |
1998Capital Programme |
1998£4.0 millionSupplementaryEstimate |
Total |
|
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
|
|
North-Western |
0.075 |
0.010 |
0.234 |
0.319 |
|
South-Eastern |
0.116 |
0.100 |
0.390 |
0.606 |
|
Southern |
0.266 |
0.150 |
0.585 |
1.001 |
|
Western |
0.379 |
0.100 |
0.390 |
0.869 |
|
Total |
4.325 |
0.955 |
4.000 |
9.280 |
