Vol. 415 No. 1
378 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if she will outline (1) the amount of funding made available from the AIDS fund in 1991 to those organisations specialising in prevention and care of drug users with HIV and AIDS and (2) the proportion this represents of the overall allocation from the fund.
The AIDS fund has informed me that it made payments totalling over £146,000 in 1991. Of that approximately £53,000 was paid to organisations who assist drug users with HIV and AIDS. In addition a total payment of £57,150 was made to the AIDS crisis fund. I understand that the main beneficiaries from the fund are HIV drug abusers.
379 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that (a) drug users have the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the country and (b) drug use is the main mode of transmission of the virus, she will outline her views on whether the present availability of funding to organisations specialising in prevention and care of drug users with HIV and AIDS is adequate.
The response to date by organisations specialising in prevention and care of drug users with HIV and AIDS has been a significant factor in addressing the overall AIDS/HIV problem in Ireland. I intend, as a matter of urgency, in consultation with the National AIDS Strategy Committee, to look at the current level of funding to such organisations.
