Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:249 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that there is an integrated approach to helping visually impaired children. [27253/00]
Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
The report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, published in December, 1996, sets out the requirements for the development of these services, including the development of services for visually impaired adults and children. As also recommended in the report, regional co-ordinating committees for services for people with physical and sensory disabilities have been put in place in each of the health boards. One of the primary functions of the co-ordinating committees is to advise the chief executive officer of each board on priorities for the allocation of funds available for the development of the services in their functional area.
Since the report was published, additional on-going revenue funding totalling £17 million has been provided to the health boards for priority service developments for people with physical and sensory disabilities. From the £10 million additional ongoing revenue funding provided between 1997 and 1999, a total of £1.051 million has been invested in the development of services for people with sensory disabilities, including children with visual impairments.
I have also recently received a copy of the report of the planning group for a national centre for children with visual impairment. The group's report puts forward a comprehensive range of very significant proposals and these are currently being considered in my Department. Decisions regarding the implementation of this report will be taken when the report has been fully considered.