asked the Minister for Health the provisions he has made for the further development of community care services in 1986.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community Care Services.
50.
The allocation of resources to individual service areas is primarily a matter for the health boards in the light of the resources made available to them by my Department. When the allocation levels in respect of each health board are settled for 1986 I shall be instructing the boards to ensure that in their distribution of these resources they at least maintain the present level of availability of community-based services. In addition, the pattern of development of services, for example in relation to psychiatric care, reflects the importance of community care and this is a trend which will be continued in 1986. Finally, I am continuing in 1986 the provision of a special fund to finance the development of new initiatives in respect of vulnerable groups in the community.
Do I take it from the Minister's reply that there will be no further development in community care services in 1986? The Minister stated that primarily it was a matter for the health boards but that he would be asking them to maintain the present level of service. In view of the fact that the Government are committed to a transfer of resources and to the development of community services, would the Minister not consider after three years that this is most unsatisfactory?
In the health plan, part of the national plan, there was a special provision built in of £2.5 million to provide for initiatives in the case of vulnerable groups. Of that money, last year we spent close on £1 million on measles eradication, which has been outstandingly successful—the latest figures show a take up of about 80 per cent. I want to thank the medical and nursing professions and the health boards for the work they have done in this area. We will not need to spend that £1 million this year and this money will be spent in other community and preventive health care areas. I intend to take a number of initiatives in that area. The budget position will be tight but it will enable us to continue with the existing levels of community care, and in some areas there will be some expansion.