306 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding will be made available to an association (details supplied) for the employment of full time development officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6080/07]

Funding for all health services has been provided as part of the Health Service Executive's overall Vote for health and personal social services in 2007. The allocation of resources in the case raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Executive to be determined with the overall priorities for particular services set out in the Budget. Accordingly, my Department has requested that the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive arranges to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. My Department understands that the Minister for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan T.D. met with the Association and suggested that they might also wish to apply to the Department of Education and Science for funding under the "Children at Risk Fund".