asked the Minister for Health the way in which funds from the national lottery are to be used in the health area; if he has invited submissions from health boards and voluntary agencies on particular projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Lottery.
1.
The Government have, to date, allocated a total sum of £10.1 million to the health and welfare areas from the proceeds of the national lottery. In May 1987, the sum of £2 million was provided to finance the activities of the Health Education Bureau during 1987. A further provision of £100,000 to develop services for the elderly and £2 million for the 1988 Health Capital Programme was approved subsequently.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government announced on 19 November 1987 that a further sum of £6 million is to be allocated to the health and welfare area. Final decisions on the detailed distribution of these funds are now being taken. Accordingly, I will, in the near future, be notifying the various agencies who are to benefit from the distribution of national lottery revenue in 1987 and in 1988 of their individual allocations. In broad terms the allocation of £6 million will be expended on the following health programmes:—
|
£ |
|
|
1. Services for the physically and mentally handicapped. |
2,262,000 |
|
2. Services for the elderly. |
888,000 |
|
3. Psychiatric services. |
700,000 |
|
4. Community information and development services. |
1,000,000 |
|
5. Aids prevention. |
450,000 |
|
6. Child services. |
700,000 |
|
Total |
6,000,000 |
I wish to assure the Deputy that in determining the final distribution of national lottery proceeds I have taken into account the views of health boards and voluntary agencies involved in the daily provision of health services. In fact, a considerable number of submissions were received from interested parties and I have been very conscious of the views reflected therein before deciding upon those projects which are deserving of special funding.
Is the Minister aware that because health boards are so strapped for money that they are now considering the possibility of lottery money to fund general projects and that many of the health boards are making submissions to the Department on that basis? Does the Minister intend to allow lottery money to be used for work normally carried out by direct subvention from the Department?
I am not aware of any health boards making a submission to have moneys from the national lottery used to fund their ordinary activity. It is my intention that the funds will go mainly to community-based activity which normally would not be funded directly from the Exchequer as part of the funding of health boards.
Does the Minister intend to notify health boards that they may not use funds from the national lottery and that the Minister does not intend to provide moneys from the national lottery to be used for work normally funded from the Exchequer.
It is not necessary to notify the health boards not to use national lottery money for their ordinary activities because the health boards will only be allowed to use the money when I have approved a project.
Will the Minister explain what he means by community-based activities? Is the Minister talking about community care operations of the health board or voluntarily organised projects?
A final decision on the allocation for individual projects has not been taken yet. A sum of £2.262 million will be allocated for services for the physically and mentally handicapped, this being allocated for the implementation of resocialisation programmes designed to assist in the transfer of patients from institutional to community-based services.The object is to ensure that such persons will, through a programme of resocialisation be able to meet the challenge to live independently in their own community. The programme will necessitate the purchase of houses, the provision of day nursing facilities, day care centres, and the employment of house parents to encourage independent attitudes and behaviour.
A sum of £888,000 will be allocated for the provision of services for the elderly and this will be spent on the development of community-based services. The provision of these services will reduce the level of admission of the elderly to institutional care and, at the same time, greatly enhance the lifestyle of our senior citizens. The £700,000 for the psychiatric services will accelerate the continuing programme of deinstitutionalising long stay psychiatric patients. The programme will involve the provision of a range of modern community-based facilities.
A sum of £1 million is being provided for the development of community information and development services. Particular attention will be given to the services provided by voluntary agencies but it is intended that they will operate within a broader framework than heretofore provided under the aegis of the National Social Service Board.
A total of £450,000 will be spent in 1987 and 1988 on the provision of AIDS prevention programmes. Special emphasis will be placed on the need to minimise the spread of HIV infection amongst intravenous drug abusers. To date there have been 26 cases of AIDS and 13 deaths here.
A sum of £700,000 is to be provided for the development of a range of services to facilitate investigation and management of cases of child abuse. Innovative prevention programmes for the support of families and young children will be developed together with new projects to assist the young homeless and movement of children from residential to community-based services.
Is the Minister aware that because of the national lottery many local fund raising activities have been deprived of much needed funds? Because of that will the Minister say that community service centres providing information on services to the handicapped such as the services provided by community centres in Dundalk and Drogheda will be eligible for funds from the national lottery distribution?
Most of the money will be provided through voluntary organisations.I will certainly take everything into account in making allocations and each case will be considered on its merits.
I want to go on to another question.
I want to ask another question.
We have already spent ten minutes on this question. I will allow Deputy Bell a final supplementary.
Will the applications be made directly to the Minister or through the health boards?
I will accept applications through the health boards or applications sent direct to my Department.