145 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health his views on whether funding for voluntary organisations, which is usually provided through the health board, should be based on the number of persons facilitated by the voluntary organisation in that health board area. [22568/96]

Limerick East): Funding to voluntary agencies by health boards is usually by means of grants under section 65 of the Health Act, 1953, which enables health boards to give assistance by way of a contribution to expenses. Lottery funding is also distributed to voluntary organisations by health boards.

Decisions concerning the level of these grants are a matter for the health boards. Such decisions are made in the context of a wide range of relevant factors including an assessment of existing services and the role of individual voluntary agencies in providing services locally. Other sources of funding available to a particular agency would also be relevant.

It would not be appropriate, therefore, to base decisions concerning the level of funding solely on the number of persons facilitated by the voluntary organisation.