The Tánaiste and I are aware of, and acknowledge, the services provided by Lucan disability action group. The Tánaiste has met with this group in recent months.
The group has been in receipt of funding for the past numbers of years from FÁS under the social economy programme and I understand that there is potential for the organisation to seek continuing funding from FÁS, albeit at a reduced rate for 2006.
While Lucan disability action group has not been in receipt of funding from the Health Service Executive to date in respect of the services that it provides, these services complement the range of supports already provided by the HSE to persons with disabilities in the Lucan area.
Accordingly, it is appropriate that the group should engage with the HSE concerning the possibility of entering into an agreement for the provision of services to be funded by the executive in accordance with its functions under the Health Act 2004. The group has been made aware of this.