Denis Naughten
Ceist:137 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if additional funding will be provided to the Irish Wheelchair Association for the Cuisle day centre at Donamon, County Roscommon [5350/99]
Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.
The funding of services, such as day activity and respite care services, for people with physical and sensory disabilities is a matter for the relevant health board. This year, a total of £13.4 million additional funding is being provided for the maintenance and development of services in this sector. Of this, £3 million, rising to £6 million on a full year cost basis in the year 2000 is for the development of services and £4 million is for capital projects. The Western Health Board was allocated £0.3 million for development of services and £0.3 million for capital projects in its functional area. The expenditure of this funding is a matter for the board in consultation with its local co-ordinating committee, on which the IWA is represented. Accordingly, the IWA should take this matter up with the Western Health Board.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:138 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if additional funding will be provided in 1999 to the Irish Wheelchair Association to provide aid appliances and personal assistance for individuals with physical and sensory disabilities [5351/99]
The funding of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, such as aids, appliances and personal assistance services is a matter for the health boards. In December 1998, I announced additional funding of £4 million for the provision of aids, appliances and other equipment, including accessible transport for people with disabilities. A total of £1.5 million from this funding was allocated to the health boards for the provision of these items in consultation and co-operation with the Irish Wheelchair Association. This year, a total of £13.4 million is being provided for the maintenance and development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Of this, £3 million revenue – £6 million full year cost in the year 2000 – is for the development of services. Priorities for the allocation of this funding will be decided by boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. The IWA is represented on all such committees. The question of allocating funds for the provision of additional personal assistance services will be considered by each health board in this context.