Consuming 21 percent of the 2003 Budget, $132.3 million was set aside for the Ministry of Health and Family Services.

The ministry received the largest amount of Budget funds, up from $128 million last year as it continues to rank as Government's largest provider of public goods and services to our community, Finance Minister Eugene Cox said yesterday.

"Part of funding going towards the establishment of the new Department of Court Services. This new department amalgamates Probation Services and BARC as part of the continued development of Government's Alternative to Incarceration initiative," Mr. Cox told the House of Assembly.

A little over $4 million has been earmarked to establish this new Government Department. Of those monies, $580,000 will be funnelled into the Drug Treatment Court programme. Almost $1.5 million will be used for the administration at Court Services, while $738,000 has been allotted for the assessment of offenders within the department.

Just over $9 million has been provided in the Ministry of Health and Family Services for key projects including rest home renovations and new development ($6.6 million); capital works at St. Brendan's Hospital,including a new fire alarm and lighting protection system ($770,000) and renovations to Teucer House ($1.6 million), which currently houses the offices of Teen Services.

Almost $3 million has been set aside for subsidised health care services to assure that hospital care is provided to all persons who require such services, Mr. Cox said.

Also accounting for the additional funding in the Ministry is the newly established post of Co-ordinator for the Comprehensive School Health Programme and increased costs for the Foster Care programme and the Brangman home.

The statutory hospital subsidy grant for KEMH increased from just under $50 million to $52.5 million while the St. Brendan's grant increased slightly to nearly $23.8 million, up from $22 million last year.

Spending at the Department of Child and Family Services was slashed by 26 percent. It will receive $8.3 million compared to $11.3 million earmarked last year.

Financial Assistance has had its expenditure reduced to $15.5 million. Last year, it was allotted $17.4 million.

Also cut was the budget for the Ministry's Headquarters, with its spending reduced from $6.3 in 2002, to $5.3 million this year.