Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The Irish Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, ISANDS, provides support services to parents and families of babies who are stillborn or who die around the time of birth. The society has been funded by the former Eastern Regional Health Authority and, latterly, the Health Service Executive, HSE, since 2001.

In 2005, the HSE grant amounted to €35,000. In addition, a once-off grant of €30,000 was provided by my Department out of national lottery funding. It is a condition of this grant that certification of expenditure be submitted to the Department as soon as possible after the end of the 2005 financial year. My Department is advised by the executive that the approved funding was used by the society in 2005 to help support its activities, including telephone support for bereaved families, publication of newsletters and services of remembrance.

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