As part of an ongoing review of needs within existing services, a review of the services provided by Co-Action West Cork and a number of other section 65 funded intellectual disability service providers in the Southern and Mid-Western Health Board regions was carried out in late 2001. This review identified the need for specific funding in respect of the existing services provided by these agencies. It has been specifically made clear to all agencies involved in this exercise over recent years that, while making every effort to provide the resources required to address these needs as soon as possible, my Department could not give a commitment on a specific time frame within which the identified needs would be met. As the resources are made available to my Department, specific funding has been provided annually in recent years to meet these needs in the various agencies around the country. This was also the case in 2002 with €4.937 million allocated for this purpose.
In relation to Co-Action West Cork, copies of the draft review report have been sent to the Southern Health Board for discussion with the agency and to provide an opportunity for both to comment on the recommendations which have been made, prior to formally agreeing the final content. In advance of this, my Department made additional funding of €64,000 available to Co-Action West and to a number of other agencies which are at the same stage in the review process.
I assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work with the Southern Health Board and Co-Action West to address the financial issues which are of concern to them.
