Limerick East): The personal assistant scheme currently funded by my Department is for people who participated in the Centre for Independent Living Horizon Pilot Project, INCARE. This two year project ended in December 1994 and I agreed to fund the continuation of this service to the existing participants pending an examination of the whole question of personal assistance services. My Department, through the Eastern Health Board, provided funding of approximately £330,000 in 1995 and £380,000 in 1996. The number of people with disabilities who received a personal assistance service under this scheme in those years ranged from 23 to 29.