Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 3

Written Answers. - Capital Development Fund.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

247 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money which lies unclaimed from the general practitioner capital development fund for 1997; if he will give a breakdown of the amount which is unclaimed in every health board region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22264/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

A specific general practice capital development fund was established in 1996 and continued this year, at a level of £1 million each year, to provide capital funding for the development of general practice in Ireland.

In 1997, as in 1996, health boards were invited to make applications for allocations under the fund in respect of eligible projects in their areas which they considered most suitable for assistance under the fund this year. As a result, the entire £1 million in the 1997 fund was distributed in November as follows:

Health Board	1997 Allocation
	£
Eastern	275,000
Midland	50,000
Mid-Western	60,000
North-Eastern	120,000
North-Western	125,000
South-Eastern	170,000
Southern	150,000
Western	50,000
Total	1,000,000

With a view to optimising the fund, health boards were required, in making their submission for an allocation, to have regard only to projects that were either under way or at a very advanced pre-commencement stage so as to ensure that the allocations made would be applied to the greatest extent possible in the current year.

Accordingly, it is understood that the boards will draw down their 1997 allocation shortly.