Vol. 534 No. 5
128 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to provide full respite care in Carlow town for children with special needs; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current arrangements are inadequate as the service is based on emergency only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11246/01]
Additional funding amounting to £940,000, increasing to £975,000 in 2002, was allocated to the South Eastern Health Board between 1999 and 2001 for the expansion of existing respite care services and the development of new places for both adults and children with an intellectual disability and those with autism. In addition to this funding for general respite services, £200,000 has also been allocated to the board in 2001 for the development of four high support respite places for persons with major challenging behaviour. In the case of services for persons with a physical or sensory disability, additional funding amounting to £3.051 million was allocated in the same period to the board for the development of services, including respite services.
