Vol. 574 No. 5
105 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children if he envisages special relief funding to restore and increase the number of patients subvented in the Cavan-Monaghan region, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27393/03]
As the Deputy will be aware, provision for health services in counties Cavan and Monaghan is the responsibility of the North-Eastern Health Board in the first instance. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in discussions with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards, including the North-Eastern Health Board, concerning the administration and funding of the nursing home subvention scheme. I should point out that since my appointment as Minister of State, I have encouraged the authority and the health boards to introduce home care packages, including home based subvention, for clients applying for nursing home subvention as an alternative to long-stay residential care. The criteria for home based subvention is the same that applies for nursing home subvention. The fact that the overall economic position in 2003 has had implications for all aspects of public investment is reflected in the Estimates and budget adopted by the Government for 2003. Within this overall framework, however, some two thirds of the additional funding available for non-capital investment in services has been allocated to the health services.
