asked the Minister for Health if he will consider giving special assistance to the secular Franciscan Sisters to complete their project at Assisi House for the elderly; and, if in view of the fact that this worthy project has run into financial difficulties, he will treat this as a very special case for assistance.
Written Answers. - Assisi House Project.
691.
My Department do not provide funds directly for capital developments such as this. The decision as to whether assistance can be provided for such projects is a matter for health boards—in this case the Eastern Health Board.
Regrettably, the board's allocation for 1982 has been fully committed. The question of whether assistance can be provided next year will depend on the level of capital funding to be made available to the board and the degree of priority which the board can afford to this project in relation to other similar developments in the board's area.
I might add that this project is largely of a housing nature and that any assistance which might become available from health resources would be related to its infirmary only.