Vol. 525 No. 5
273 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in recognition of the invaluable voluntary work being done by the Kilkenny Unit of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, he will approve grant aid towards the purchase of a building to safeguard their ambulances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25704/00]
Funding for voluntary organisations is allocated from national lottery funds but is not allocated directly to local branches by my Department. Funds from the health allocation of the national lottery are made available on a national basis to the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps and the distribution of these funds to local branches is a matter for the Order of Malta.
National lottery funding is also allocated to health boards to provide grants to voluntary organisations and it would be open to the Kilkenny unit to apply to the South Eastern Health Board regarding the possibility of receiving some assistance from this funding towards the cost of the building.
