As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in Cavan is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the North Eastern Health Board.
The board has informed my Department that it has attempted over many years to support the voluntary sector in the provision of day care services to older people through section 65 grant aid. The board has stated that it has had many successes across the region in this regard, none more so than in the Cavan and Monaghan region. In this regard, an offer of significant financial support was made to representatives of the Cootehill day care centre committee prior to Christmas, which was not acceptable to the committee. In light of this development, the board now proposes that an out-reach day service will commence at the Cootehill day care centre before the end of April. This will entail the redeployment of resources from services in Cavan to Cootehill to support the delivery of a service there, initially on one day per fortnight. Again, this approach has been successful in developing services in other locations. The board is hopeful of receiving as much support as possible from local voluntary groups for its endeavours in this regard and local health board management will meet with voluntary groups from the area to consider available options.
I am hopeful that the interventions to be put in place by the North Eastern Health Board during 2004 will result in a measurably improved service for the people of Cootehill and surrounding areas.