Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 1

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

517 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the current position with regard to providing a new day resource centre, social housing and respite and enterprise units at a site in Belmullet, County Mayo, secured by the Irish Wheelchair Association; the position this project has held in the priority list of the Western Health Board in each of the years from 1995 to 1999 and the present date; if the necessary funding can now be sanctioned to get this project up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19344/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The provision of services to people with physical and sensory disabilities is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. Priorities for the allocation of funding available for the development of services in each region are decided by each health board in consultation with its regional co-ordinating committee for physical and sensory disability services. These co-ordinating committees are representative of the health boards, voluntary agencies providing services to people with physical and sensory disabilities and service users.

Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer, Western Health Board, with a request that she examine the query and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.