Vol. 543 No. 5
303 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will honour a commitment given to a drug centre (details supplied) in County Kilkenny regarding a capital grant of £300,000 of which £150,000 has been paid. [27531/01]
In 1998 my Department approved a capital grant of £150,000 towards the drug treatment centre referred to by the Deputy. According to departmental files no commitment was given for any additional funding.
My officials recently met with representatives of the centre and explained the situation to them and suggested that it may wish to apply for funding under the health and children allocation of lottery funds. This application has been received and is currently being considered and the organisation will be informed as soon as a decision has been made.
The centre also receives annual funding of £240,000 from the South-Eastern Health Board for drug treatment services for adolescents from the South-Eastern, the Southern and MidWestern Health Boards.
