Vol. 431 No. 6
125 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funds made available from his Department to groups representing the physically handicapped for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The funding of voluntary bodies representing, or providing services to people with physical disability is primarily a matter for health boards who provide grants to such organisations under Section 65 of the Health Act, 1953.
The Information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, information available to my Department indicates that grants in excess of £7.5 million were paid by health boards to organisations representing people with physical or sensory disability in respect of 1991.
Precise figures on the amounts being paid in 1993 is at present being collected in the context of the examination of services being carried out by the Review Group on Physical and Sensory Disability. I will let the Deputy have these figures when they come to hand.
