I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 170 together.
As part of the Budget Day announcement last December on the provision of €150 million in a full year for older people and palliative care, a total of €13 million, €9 million this year, and a further €4 million next year was committed to statutory and voluntary providers of palliative care. This is the largest incremental increase ever provided for this programme. The funding included resources for areas of the country where the services were not developed.
The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.