Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Health the way the allocation of €69,000 to an organisation (details supplied) compares with taxpayers' moneys paid since 13 October 1995 including lump sum retirement money and annual pension payments to a former consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth. [20848/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that a person (details supplied) was subsequently struck off the medical register for the sexual assault of three former patients and that the Garda awaits the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of more than 100 files alleging sexual abuse, he will accept that this is an inadequate fund to support the very important work of an organisation. [20849/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together.

I am pleased to be in a position to state that this month I approved a grant, on a once-off basis, of €69,000 from my Department's allocation of National Lottery funds to Dignity 4 Patients. The funding is to go towards the cost of providing an office, a website, a helpline and office administration for the organisation. Dignity 4 Patients also received a grant in 2010 of almost €172,000 from my Department's National Lottery funds. This was given towards the cost of providing information and support to victims of abuse wishing to attend the Drogheda Review which completed its work last year.

Services delivered by the HSE cover many of the areas this organisation sought a grant to provide. I have urged Dignity 4 Patients to liaise and work in synergy with the HSE to ensure quality assured services are provided. Lottery funding is once off funding and in the current circumstances the level of funding provided is significant. Dignity 4 Patients have also applied for funding to the HSE and I am satisfied that the HSE will take Dignity 4 Patients role and capacity into full account when considering the application from this organisation.

The statutory agencies work to provide a regulated quality service with other agencies (both statutory and non-statutory as they judge it appropriate). This context provides the potential for a longer term source of funding for an organisation such as Dignity 4 Patients, working in a way that is integrated and effective in tandem with the statutory service providers. As the additional information that the Deputy refers to is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.