I propose to take Questions Nos. 1185 and 1300 together.
My Department has a National Lottery discretionary fund in place which provides once-off grants to community groups and organisations, providing a range of health related services. Dignity 4 Patients received lottery funding of €69,000 from my Department's 2011 allocation of National Lottery Funding towards the once-off cost of providing an office, a website, a helpline and office administration. An application for 2012 Lottery funding has recently been received by my Department from Dignity 4 Patients and is currently being considered. It must be stressed that lottery funding is once-off discretionary funding and is not intended to provide a source of ongoing revenue funding.
On-going funding for any service is a matter for the HSE and accordingly I previously asked the HSE to liaise with Dignity 4 Patients to consider if any additional funding might be approved to support activities which were complementary to services offered by the HSE. I understand the HSE is currently in contact with Dignity 4 Patients in order to sign off on a Grant Aid Agreement to cover the running costs for the Organisation's County Louth office.
The HSE will not be issuing funding to Dignity 4 Patients for counselling services. All counselling services to service users will be provided via the National Counselling Service.