Vol. 506 No. 2
233 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding will be approved for office space for community support staff at Lanesboro Street, Roscommon, following the deputation with the Brothers of Charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14915/99]
I recently met representatives of the Brothers of Charity services and the County Roscommon Association for the Mentally Handicapped together with local representatives, including Deputy Naughten. The position regarding the requirements of the Roscommon services for persons with an intellectual disability, including autism, were outlined to me at that meeting and in particular the requirement for office space for community support staff.
As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the provision of services for persons with an intellectual disability is the responsibility of the Western Health Board in the first instance. Recently I was pleased to approve a capital allocation of £900,000 to the Western Health Board from the £30 million national capital programme, to support the development of new facilities for persons with an intellectual disability. Decisions regarding the individual capital projects to benefit from this funding are agreed by the board in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committee, taking into account the priorities which they have identified for the region. I have requested officials from my Department to meet the Western Health Board to discuss the capital requirements of the Roscommon services and to report back to me on the outcome of their deliberations.
