The provision of speech and language therapy services is a matter for the relevant health board, in this case, the Southern Health Board. The report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, which was published in December 1996 set out the requirements for the development of these services, including the provision of additional therapy services. This year £7 million has been provided for the development of the services of which £1.021 million was allocated to the Southern Health Board to decide, in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committee for physical and sensory disability services, on priorities for allocation of funding for the development of services in its functional area.