Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has established a mechanism to protect funding for new developments in the areas of mental health, disability, palliative care, Travellers' health and other specific areas from being used for other proposes in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13094/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have included additional funding in the 2009 Estimates for new developments which includes €15m for Cancer Services and €10m for Disabilities. To facilitate a more transparent level of accountability for this funding a new subhead, B 17, has been established in the Estimates for the Health Service Executive.

The Deputy will be aware that proposals regarding the expenditure of development funding must be submitted as part of the National Service Plan, the approval of which I have the statutory responsibility. The implementation of the plan is the subject of ongoing monitoring by my Department throughout the year, including the use of development funding. In addition, the letter of sanction in respect of the Health Service Executive's Vote issued each year by the Minister for Finance contains strict conditions regarding the use of these funds. I am satisfied that these mechanisms are more than adequate to ensure that development funding is used for the purpose for which it has been allocated.