Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 7

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

50 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make available the necessary funds for a new wheelchair accessible centre in Belmullet, County Mayo, in view of the fact that the existing centre is too small and is located in temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23399/98]

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

83 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a special grant available for the provision of a larger wheelchair centre at Belmullet, County Mayo, in view of the inadequacy of the existing centre. [23790/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 83 together.

I understand that the Deputy may be referring to a day resource centre at Erris, County Mayo.

The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, published in December 1996, sets out the requirements for the development of services in this sector. As recommended in the report, regional co-ordinating committees for services to people with physical and sensory disabilities have been put in place in each of the health boards. One of the primary functions of the co-ordinating committees is to advise the chief executive officers of each board on priorities for the allocation of funds available for the development of services in their functional areas.

Additional capital funding of £3 million was made available in 1998 for services to people with physical and sensory disabilities. From this, £270,000 was allocated to the Western Health Board for a number of capital projects including £120,000 for the development of day resource centres in Erris, County Mayo, and Tuam, County Galway. I am informed that, following consultation with its co-ordinating committee and the Irish Wheelchair Association and having regard to difficulties in progressing simultaneous development at both centres, the board decided to use these funds to progress the development of the centre at Tuam with the expectation that the development of the centre at Erris might commence in 1999.

At this stage I am not in a position to provide further funding for the centre in County Mayo. The development of such facilities will be considered in the context of available capital funding in 1999.