Vol. 562 No. 4
348 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will provide the maximum assistance to Down Syndrome Ireland for its project, the national resource centre, and assist with speech therapy services. [6455/03]
In 2003 my Department, for the first time, allocated a grant of €50,000 to the Down's Syndrome association for the establishment of a budget base.
I am also aware that the association has submitted an application for lottery funding in respect of costs associated with the research project which the association undertook and which resulted in the publication of medical guidelines for the treatment of children and adults with Down's Syndrome. This application will be considered in the light of funding available in the current year.
Regrettably, the overall economic position in 2003 has had implications for all aspects of public investment and this is reflected in the Estimates and budget adopted by the Government for 2003. However, further additional funding of €13.3 million has been allocated in the current year to services for persons with an intellectual disability or autism to meet the full year cost of the 2002 developments and to further enhance the health related support services to children with an intellectual disability or autism. This funding brings the total extra investment in these services to €340 million over seven years. Of this total amount, more than €200 million has been built into the ongoing budget base.
