Seanad debates
Wednesday, 25 June 2003
Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed).
Although I am usually supportive of the health boards, one problem I have found is in the area of disability, an important issue. The Minister is very kindly giving us extra money. Other Ministers have given money during the years. There seems to be an idea among the health boards that the money should be divided among counties not on the basis of need but of size. A little more is given to Galway because it is bigger than Mayo and Mayo gets a little more than Roscommon. That is totally wrong. Unfortunately, the same thing happens in relation to housing repairs for the elderly: the money is divided among counties with much political in-fighting. A county based structure would be better, although it would not be perfect. We would still have rows between Galway city and the rest of the county. I hope this issue will be dealt with by the new structures being put in place. We know the structures are lacking because the two reports mentioned this.
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