Vol. 513 No. 2
93 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to provide the needed additional residential places for senior citizens in the Waterford constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/00]
As the Deputy is aware the South Eastern Health Board has responsibility for the provision of health services in the Waterford area. The board has a number of priorities for 2000 in relation to the provision of services for older people in Waterford in accordance with the board's policy document Towards the Golden Years – 1998-2011. These include the following: the continued upgrading of St. Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan, through the commissioning of St. Enda's ward; the completion of the refurbishment of St. Malachy's ward in St. Patrick's Hospital, in conjunction with the ‘Friends of St. Patrick's. I have allocated the board additional funding of approximately £600,000 in 2000 to provide additional services for older people including day care and respite care and home support services. This funding will also be used to strengthen multidisciplinary teams through the appointment of additional posts of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.
