Vol. 518 No. 1
130 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding allocated by the Western Health Board for personal assistants, as defined by the Centre for Independent Living, for physical and sensory disability services in 1999; the projected amount for 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11016/00]
In 1999, the Western Health Board provided a total of £128,369 for home supports, including personal assistance services. Of this a sum of £11,190 was allocated to centres for independent living for personal assistance services. Apart from this, it is not possible to isolate the precise amounts allocated for personal assistants as opposed to other elements of home support services.
This year a total of £7 million was made available for the development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, of which £3 million is being targeted at the home support services, including personal assistant services. Of this, £697,000 was allocated to the Western Health Board, of which £300,000 is being targeted at home supports. The precise details of the allocation of this funding has yet to be finalised by the board.
