Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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882. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the pressures been placed on the Irish Guide Dogs Association by cuts to their budget, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the guide-dog assistance programme has had to be curtailed as a result of these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27721/13]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1033. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide real consideration to the needs of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind which is in need of an additional €500,000 to protect essential services; the amount of funding the organisation is currently receiving from the Health Service Executive; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that other peer organisations receive a much higher proportion of their funding on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27887/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 882 and 1033 together.

The Department recognises the valuable contribution the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind makes to the provision of supports to people who are vision impaired. The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind are funded by the Health Service Executive and the Department has asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with details of the funding provided in the past number of years to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Officials of the Department of Health met recently with the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. A number of issues including funding was discussed. The Department indicated that additional funding is not available.