Vol. 510 No. 5
172 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if sufficient funding and facilities exist or are proposed to meet the needs of the parents and friends of handicapped children and young adults in County Kildare with particular reference to training, respite, long-term care and other support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23107/99]
The provision of services for persons with disabilities in County Kildare is a matter in the first instance for the Eastern Health Board. While significant additional resources have been made available to these services in recent years, there is an ongoing need to further develop services for this group. Priorities for the development of services are agreed by the board, in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for services for persons with an intellectual disability and those with physical or sensory disabilities.
With reference to services for persons with an intellectual disability, additional revenue funding amounting to £3.635 million was provided in 1999, with a full year cost of £4.610 in the year 2000. Capital funding amounting to £4.15 million, of which £3.3 million was to support the new developments was also allocated to the board in 1999. Eighteen new places, six respite and three full-time emergency places, in addition to seven short-term crisis places, have been provided from this funding. Capital funding amounting to £425,000 was also allocated to support the Kildare developments.
Additional funding of £1.080 million in 1999, with a full year cost of £2.16 million in the year 2000, has been provided for the development of services for persons with a physical or sensory disability. Capital funding amounting to £1.234 million was provided to the Eastern Health Board to support new developments. Five new residential places have been provided from this funding.
The Government is also committed to the ongoing development of services for people with disabilities and I am pursuing the allocation of further resources in the context of the 2000 budgetary process and the national development plan.
