The Matt Talbot Services previously knows as the Father Rock Centre, Cork, sought funding prior to the budget for each of three Departments – Health and Children, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. An allocation of £250,000 was announced under the Department of Health and Children to be provided through the Southern Health Board as the operation of these centres is considered to be primarily the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children and health boards.
My Department through the probation and welfare service paid a capital grant of £31,700 in November 1998 to Matt Talbot Services towards improvements and equipment. The service is not in a position to provide ongoing funding to the Matt Talbot Services, due to the heavy demands on the resources of the service.
Over the past four years the probation and welfare service has paid capitation grants, that is, paying per head for use of the Matt Talbot Service, of the order of £183,000.
However, I am still considering its application and should any resources become available I am prepared to look upon the application sympathetically.