Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 3

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

130 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will immediately sanction a substantially increased allocation under the services for the elderly capital works programme to the South Eastern Health Board in general and, in particular, in the Waterford area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22804/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

146 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the allocation to each of the health boards under the services for the elderly (capital works) programme; the basis on which the amount of the various allocations was decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

147 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the grossly inadequate allocation under the services for the elderly (capital works) programme made to the South Eastern Health Board in general and, in particular, in the County Waterford area, he will immediately sanction a substantially increased allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22620/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 146 and 147 together.

The funding made available to the health boards-ERHA under the national development plan for development of services for older people is as set out in the following table.

Capital Expenditure (£m) NDP by Health Board and Region

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	Total
Objective – 1 Region – Border, Midland &Western Region
MHB	1.03	1.10	2.34	2.27	3.04	2.27	12.05
NEHB (excluding Co. Meath)	1.08	1.14	1.68	0.91	1.18	1.93	7.92
NWHB	1.29	1.36	2.60	2.52	3.29	2.57	13.63
WHB	1.86	1.97	3.93	3.82	5.02	3.85	20.45
Sub Total	5.26	5.57	10.55	9.52	12.53	10.62	54.05
Region in Transition – Southern & EasternRegion
ERHA	5.44	5.79	12.35	11.96	16.03	12.08	63.65
Co. Meath	0.10	0.10	0.55	1.25	1.61	0.25	3.86
MWHB	1.25	1.88	3.54	3.35	3.62	2.68	16.32
SEHB	1.34	1.44	2.83	2.75	3.63	2.78	14.77
SHB	3.78	3.93	6.59	6.43	8.08	6.59	35.40
Sub Total	11.91	13.14	25.86	25.74	32.97	24.38	134.00
Total	17.17	18.71	36.41	35.26	45.50	35.00	188.05

The level of funding made available for services for older people was determined in accordance with the regionalisation and other principles governing the NDP, the overall resources available for health services and competing demands of other service areas. It is a matter for each health board-ERHA to determine the relative priority of proposed developments in its area.

The national development plan represents almost a trebling of the level of capital investment in the health services over the previous seven year period. It provides for a significant increase in funding of services for older people up to the end of 2006.

Andrew Boylan

Question:

131 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health and Children the scheme whereby a voluntary health and day care centre for the elderly can get funding to extend its centres in order to facilitate the demands in this regard in County Cavan. [22520/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

Decisions in relation to capital developments are the responsibility of the health boards-authorities who strategically plan and prioritise developments on the basis of identified needs within their catchment areas. Funding for voluntary organisations is mainly provided through the health boards-authorities. The organisation in County Cavan referred to in the Deputy's question may apply directly to the North Eastern Health Board for funding.