Vol. 554 No. 5
918 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements being put in place to provide respite care in the Carlow area; and if an application for funding for such a project by the Holy Angels Day Care Centre is being considered. [15434/02]
Decisions in relation to the precise details of the services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism to be put in place from any additional funding which may be provided by my Department are a matter for the health boards, in this case the South-Eastern Health Board, in line with the priorities which have been identified for the region and any guidelines which may be issued by my Department. All of the additional funding available to the board in 2002 for these services from my Department has been committed to the development programme agreed by the board earlier this year. The board has informed my Department however that in the event of any additional funding becoming available to them in 2003, the enhancement of respite facilities for children has been identified as a priority need.
