The Southern Health Board has approved a budget of almost £296 million for the provision of services this year, an increase of more than £40 million on 1997.
The chief executive of the board, Mr Sean Hurley, said 1998 would be a landmark year because of the introduction of the 1996 Health Amendment Act which obliges each health board to produce a service plan for the year.
Mr Hurley said the 1998 allocation included a grant of £24.5 million to five voluntary mental health organisations which was previously administered directly by the Department of Health.
He said the board was still receiving £22 million more than in 1997. This would allow it to address a number of problems. Among the other additional current funding allocations is a grant of £570,000, which will allow further development of accident and emergency, intensive care unit and cardiology services at Cork University Hospital.
More than £400,000 was being allocated to the development of Tralee General Hospital including improvements to the Accident and Emergency Services, obstetrics area and radiology department including the commissioning of the hospital's CT scanner.
A further £590,000 is being allocated to reduce waiting lists; £620,000 to develop the ambulance service; and £513,000 for the cancer services.
Some £975,000 is being allocated to development of services for the elderly, including a pay rise for home helps. A further £650,000 is being allocated to the development of psychiatric services.
More than £1 million is being provided for nursing training programmes, while a further £1 million is being provided for new developments in child care protection and to cover costs arising from the implementation of the Child Care Act, he added.