Departmental Funding.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004

Tuesday, 6 July 2004

Ceisteanna (425, 426, 427, 428)

John Gormley

Ceist:

458 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to avert the threatened closure of the Carmichael centre in Dublin. [20784/04]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

459 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if core funding will be provided to a centre (details supplied) in Dublin in order to prevent its imminent closure the impact such a a closure would have on the Coeliac Society of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20988/04]

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

462 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason sufficient funding has not been made available to keep Carmichael House (details supplied) open in view of the fact that it accommodates 45 voluntary organisations which provide badly needed research and advice to thousands of persons with medical and other problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20207/04]

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

468 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will give an update regarding the Carmichael centre, Dublin 7; if he will give assurances and outline contacts with the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20502/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 458, 459, 462 and 468 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 273 to 276, inclusive, and 278 to 280, inclusive, of 22 June 2004. I met representatives of the Carmichael centre on 5 July, together with officials from my Department and from the Department of Health and Children, to discuss the centre's financial situation. The Carmichael centre was informed that the Northern Area Health Board will be asked by the Department of Health and Children to carry out a review of the centre's operations at an early date. The matter will be further considered on completion of that work.

In addition to the commitment of €150,000 from the Department of Health and Children to which I referred in my reply to the above questions, I understand that the Northern Area Health Board has made an additional €50,000 available to the Carmichael centre to cater for its immediate needs.