David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount his Department made available in budget 2005 to address disability issues; the amount each Government Department or State agency was allocated; the services or supports that were provided as a result of these moneys allocated to the above; the tracking mechanisms that are in place to ensure these moneys are spent correctly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33084/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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When I published the 2005 expenditure Estimates in November 2004, I indicated that some €2.8 billion overall across Departments would be provided this year specifically for people with disabilities. This represented an increase of some €290 million, or 11%, on the 2004 figure. The €2.8 billion, which does not include spending on disabled persons who participate in and benefit from mainstream services which are available to the community generally, broke down as follows: Department of Health and Children, €2,143 million; Department of Education and Science, €532 million; Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, €63 million; Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, €56 million; and Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, €8 million. In addition, the disabled drivers and passengers scheme under my Department was estimated to cost €45 million in tax reliefs this year.

Subsequently, on budget day, I allocated, for 2005 spending on disability services, a further €60 million capital expenditure to the Department of Health and Children in addition to an extra €3 million for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In addition, I announced a multi-annual funding package of almost €900 million in capital and current expenditure over the 2006 to 2009 period targeted at the delivery of high-priority disability services. This multi-annual funding was divided between the Department of Health and Children, which received a cumulative €500 million current and €220 million capital, the Department of Education and Science, which received a cumulative €82 million current, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which received a cumulative €40 million capital, the Office of Public Works, which received a cumulative €40 million capital, and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which received a cumulative €12 million current.

As regards the information sought regarding individual services, this is a matter for the individual Ministers concerned.