Helen Keogh
Ceist:50 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health when the Government intends to implement recommendation 6.5.2 of the report of the Commission of the Status of Women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/97]
Written Answers. - Report of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Limerick East): Recommendation 6.5.2 refers to support for women's groups in rural areas. The Minister for Agriculture Food and Forestry has the lead role in relation to rural development, including rural women's development issues.
The health services have a responsibility in so far as the Commission recommends the provision of multi-functional centres in the context of the development of community care as a means of supporting rural women's groups.
The health centre plays a key role in the delivery of primary and community health care in rural and urban areas. These centres are multi-functional, including facilitating voluntary groups to meet or provide services.
The health strategy document, Shaping a Healthier Future, recognises the crucial role of health centres in the provision of preventive and other services in the community and indicates that more health centres will be provided and existing centres will be improved.
In 1995 the Department requested and received from each board a prioritised list of health centres for development over a three year period. Following on from this initiative, health centre projects are being developed in each of the health board areas taking into account service requirements in each area.