Vol. 515 No. 6
160 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to meet funding requirements of a centre (details supplied) in County Galway to prevent its closure at the end of March 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6632/00]
The funding of voluntary sector organisations, such as the Independent Living Centre, providing services to people with physical and sensory disabilities is a matter for the health board in whose functional area the services are being provided.
I have made £7 million available to the health boards this year for the development of services to people with physical and sensory disabilities. The boards decide on priorities for the allocation of this funding in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service providers and people with disabilities themselves are represented on the co-ordinating committees.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board with a request that this proposal be considered for funding in the context of priority needs identified by the board in consultation with its regional co-ordinating committee.
