Vol. 507 No. 2
178 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, in place to develop mentally handicapped services in the Ballinasloe area of County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16783/99]
The provision of services to persons with a mental handicap in the Ballinasloe area is the responsibility of the Western Health Board in the first instance.
This year I was pleased to be in a position to allocate additional revenue funding of £1,595,000, with a full year cost of £1,965,000, to the Western Health Board for the development of new services for persons with an intellectual disability. I have also recently allocated £900,000 capital to the board to put in place facilities to support the new services. Details of the precise services to be put in place in the western region from this additional funding, the location of these services and the individuals who will benefit from them is a matter for the Western Health Board in consultation with the board's regional mental handicap co-ordinating committee, and in line with the priorities the committee has identified for the region.
