241 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated number of people in excess of 65 years of age resident within a ten mile radius of Ballinrobe; and if he will make a statement in relation to the provision of an old persons' home in Ballinrobe, County Mayo. [5378/02]

The provision of health services in the Ballinrobe area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has made inquiries of the board concerning the matter raised and has been informed that the 1996 census shows that the Ballina rural district comprises 18 townlands, with a population of 11,342, of whom 1,805 (16%) are over 65 years of age. The Western Health Board accepts the need to build a community nursing unit in Ballinrobe and I concur with that view. Decisions in relation to the prioritisation of funding for projects within the overall allocation available under the national development plan are a matter for each health board in the first instance. In conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, I am currently exploring alternative options for funding developments such as that proposed at Ballinrobe.

242 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children his Department's programme for the provision of homes for the elderly; the criteria used in the selection and nomination of locations for old persons' homes; the priority accorded to numbers in the population in excess of 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5379/02]

Each of the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority was allocated a portion of the total capital funding, approximately €240 million, made available for services to older people under the national development plan in respect of the period 2001-2006 inclusive. The funding was distributed broadly pro-rata to the number of older people – 65 years and over – in each region. Each health board and the authority then prioritised its particular requirements and the building programme will follow those priorities, within the financial resources available.