Vol. 526 No. 5
81 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children when his Department will be responding to the letter from the deputy chief executive of the South Eastern Health Board dated 4 April 2000 regarding the Department's letter of 13 March 2000 - Service Development Programme, Care of the Elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27122/00]
The correspondence to which the Deputy refers was in response to a request for information made by my Department. The information was required in order to assist in the planning of developments in services for older people in the light of the national development plan and emerging demographic trends.
The Government recognises services for older people as a priority for development. The amount of additional revenue funding for services for older people increased from £3 million in 1997, to £7 million in 1998, to £16 million in 1999 and to £23.6 million in 2000. Significant increases in the level of capital investment have also taken place, from £6.75 million in 1997, to £14 million in 1998, to £17 million in 1999 and to £20 million in 2000. The total amount available for services for older people under the national development plan is over £200 million. While I am confident that there will be significant improvements in our facilities for older people during the lifetime of the national development plan, the increase in the number of older people in the population necessitates a continuous planning and review process in relation to the development of appropriate services.
Question No. 82 taken with Question No. 75.
