Joe Costello
Question:361 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the particular concerns in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4410/03]
Vol. 561 No. 4
361 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the particular concerns in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4410/03]
The number of persons with an intellectual disability or autism accommodated in psychiatric hospitals in October 2002 was 452, down from 490 in April 2002. The figure in 1996 was 970.
Between 1999 and 2002 additional revenue funding of €10.476 million and €27.4 million capital funding was allocated to the programme to provide more appropriate care settings for: persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism accommodated in psychiatric hospitals; those accommodated in de-designated units, which were formerly designated as part of the psychiatric services; and others who moved some years ago from psychiatric hospitals to alternative accommodation which is now unsuitable for their needs.
Examples of recent developments include: the transfer of more than 60 persons in the Mid-Western Health Board from St. Joseph's Hospital, Limerick, and Our Lady's, Ennis; 29 persons from St. Finnan's, Killarney; 21 persons from St. Canice's, Kilkenny; and 30 persons from St. Joseph's Service, St. Ita's, Portrane.
Other centres, apart from psychiatric hospitals, which have received revenue and capital funding include St. Raphael's, Youghal, St. John of God House, Enniscorthy, Alvernia Centre, Portlaoise, St. Peter's, Castlepollard, Lough Sheever, Mullingar, Sean O'Hare, Stranorlar, Cloonmahon, Sligo and Áras Attracta, Swinford.
This programme not only encompasses a capital investment in new or refurbished facilities, but also aims to enhance the staff numbers and skill mix working with this group and the quality of services available to them.
It has been the policy of my Department for 15 years that persons with an intellectual disability or autism should not be admitted to psychiatric hospitals unless they have an underlying psychiatric disorder which cannot be appropriately treated elsewhere. In the case of St. Ita's Hospital, persons with an intellectual disability or autism are admitted to St. Joseph's Intellectual Disability Service, which, while it is based on the St. Ita's campus, is a specific and dedicated intellectual disability service.