Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 6

Written Answers. - Irish Wheelchair Association Funding.

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

311 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, by health board area, the grants given by each board to the wheelchair association within its region; if there are variations in these amounts; if so, if he will give the reason for this; if he will ensure that this problem is solved in the interest of all concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The amounts allocated to the Irish Wheelchair Association in 1991 by each health board were as follows:

Health Board	Grant
Eastern	£233,000
Midland	£41,500
Mid-Western	£5,000
North-Eastern	£16,000
North-Western	£50,000
South-Eastern	£5,700
Southern	£17,750
Western	£31,000
	£399,950

The difference in funding levels reflect the different levels of service provision having regard to available resources and funding priorities in each health board area.

I might also mention that my Department provided a grant of £75,000 to the association in 1991 towards the maintenance of its home care attendants scheme. The Department of Social Welfare also gave the association grants totalling £90,000 in 1991.