Vol. 508 No. 1
480 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department has received a request from St. Brigid's school, Harbour Street, Mullingar, County Westmeath, seeking the provision of a psychotherapist to work with students in a proactive manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17842/99]
The provision of health-related support services to school-going children in the Mullingar area is the responsibility of the Midland Health Board in the first instance. My Department has not received a request from the school in question for a psychotherapist. However, I understand that such a request has recently been received by the Midland Health Board. Decisions regarding new or expanded services to be put in place in the midland region, the location of these services and the persons who will benefit from them is a matter for the Midland Health Board in consultation with the board's Regional Intellectual Disability Co-ordinating Committee. The request from St. Brigid's school is being examined by the board in the light of the resources available to them and in the context of the service priorities which have been agreed with the regional co-ordinating committee.
