Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I strongly support ISANDS, which I met in Glasnevin a few months ago. Like Deputy Gormley, I know of many people affected by stillbirth who receive considerable consolation and support from ISANDS. According to the HSE, ISANDS's annual requirements are in the region of €35,000. The society has not yet received funding for 2006. I am not aware of the commitment made by my predecessor, Deputy Martin, but I will examine the matter. The commitment is not included in the brief I received for the question.

The national lottery grant from the Department of Health and Children is advertised. The Department receives approximately €5 million per annum from the national lottery. There are usually ten times more applications than the available funding can cover. It is a slice of grants from the national lottery in any one year that is made available to the Department. The grant always goes towards once-off expenditure items and generally goes towards capital expenditure. For some reason, the society received no money in 2003 and experienced a serious shortfall. I understand the national lottery grant helped to clear this shortfall. I am happy to meet ISANDS and will be very sympathetic to any particular requirements it may have.

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