Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 3

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Funding.

Michael P. Kitt

Ceist:

113 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding made available to the Western Health Board, the Brothers of Charity Services and Galway County Association for the provision of services to persons with a mental handicap for the past five years; and if he will provide extra funding for these services, including respite care facilities, residential service, group homes and an adult day centre. [6239/96]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. O'Shea)

Services to persons with a mental handicap in the Western Health Board region are provided by the board, and a number of voluntary agencies funded either through the board or directly by my Department.

The amount of funding made available to the Western Health Board and Galway County Association for the past five years is as follows:

	Western Health Board (Áras Attracta)	Galway County Association
	£	£
1991	1,332,000	2,484,546
1992	1,823,000	2,774,909
1993	2,668,000	3,070,124
1994	3,005,000	3,408,559
1995	3,060,000	3,868,406

The Brothers of Charity Services are funded directly by my Department and provide services in four health board regions. The funding allocated to the Brothers of Charity in the Western Health Board region is as follows:

	Brothers of Charity (WHB)
	£
1991	8,991,269
1992	9,602,300
1993	10,536,000
1994	11,356,555
1995	12,236,691

This year additional revenue funding of £3 million has been made available for the further development of services to persons with a mental handicap, from which £262,000 was allocated to the Western Health Board region. The allocation of this funding between services in the region is currently under consideration.

I am satisfied this additional funding has made a significant impact on the number of persons with a mental handicap awaiting services. However, I am aware that more needs to be done if we are to meet the needs of those awaiting services. The Government is committed under both the health strategy documentShaping a Healthier Future and A Government of Renewal to the continued development of the services as resources become available.

It is my intention, on completion of the new mental handicap database later this year, to prepare an overall medium term development plan for services. The Western Health Board region will be included in the plan.