Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the situation whereby some services provided to people with disabilities are being processed through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment by means of community employment schemes; and if, due to the views being expressed by groups such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, her views on the transfer of the funding to her Department to process. [8170/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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In the Estimates for 2006 significant additional funding totalling €100 million has been included for the improvement of health funded support services for people with disabilities.

As part of this provision, funding of €10 million has been made available to address core underfunding and staffing issues in services provided by the voluntary sector. The Health Service Executive has been asked to allocate this funding on an equitable basis having regard to the needs of people with disabilities. I expect that the executive's consideration of these needs will take into account any urgent case for funding of necessary services which may be made by the Irish Wheelchair Association. It is not proposed to transfer funding to my Department in relation to this scheme.