Vol. 502 No. 6
221 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will take to ensure the earliest possible starting date for the construction of the 14 unit living accommodation for the young chronic sick at St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford, in view of the urgent need for this accommodation and the huge delay in progressing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9093/99]
An amount of £100,000 capital was allocated by my Department last year to the South-Eastern Health Board for a residential/day care centre for people with physical disabilities. This year, an amount of £300,000 has been allocated to the board for capital developments in the physical and sensory disability services sector. Priorities for these developments are to be decided in consultation with the board's co-ordinating committee on physical and sensory disability services.
I understand that the project referred to by the Deputy is being actively pursued by the South-Eastern Health Board and that it is to be the subject of a further submission to my Department by the board.
