56 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health the grants paid by the South Eastern Health Board in Waterford city and county under the grant scheme for voluntary groups. [14915/95]

Limerick East): Funding for the respite care grant scheme and the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations was transferred from the Department of Social Welfare to the Department of Health this year.

I decided that responsibility for the administration of the respite care grant scheme and the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations be transferred to the health boards as an extension of the national lottery grant scheme for voluntary bodies operated by the boards.

Accordingly, the allocation for the South Eastern Health Board for these schemes for 1995 is £355,000.

I advised all health boards to ensure that the spirit of the former social welfare schemes continues to be maintained and that commitments made to voluntary organisations by social welfare be honoured. I also instructed health boards to advise all local voluntary groups in their functional area of the new procedures for applying for funding under these schemes. My Department also contacted the various umbrella bodies for people with disabilities concerning the new arrangements.

Grants have been allocated in Waterford city and county as follows:

Grants to Voluntary Organisations.