Vol. 404 No. 4
333 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health if a block grant of £150,000 will be made available to an organisation (details supplied) in 1991 to ensure that this essential service counteracts the increase in marriage breakdown and in view of the excellent track record of this service which cannot survive on a wholly voluntary basis in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Grants have been made on an annual basis to the organisation in question by the Eastern Health Board since 1974.
In both 1988 and 1989 the organisation received a grant of £11,000. This was increased to £12,000 in 1990. The budget submitted to the board in June 1990 was for expenditure in the region of £45,000.
An additional grant of £5,000 was paid in 1988 from the national lottery moneys and in 1990 a grant of £30,000 was paid towards the cost of refurbishing their premises.
Any request for additional funding for 1991 will be considered by the Eastern Health Board on receipt of information concerning their current financial situation and proposed expenditure for the forthcoming year. I understand that to date the board have received no request for funding in respect of 1991.
