asked the Minister for Health when he expects to sanction the building of an adolescent unit at St. Loman's Hospital, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Adolescent Unit.
77.
Mr. O'Malley
The establishment of a unit at St. Loman's Hospital for the treatment of mentally ill children, including autistic children, was to an appreciable extent experimental. The most desirable form of care and treatment for these children is not a matter on which there is general agreement and there is little reliable information available as to the numbers involved. The nature and extent of the provision to be made for them after the childhood stage is a problem of some difficulty. I have already sanctioned the building of a pre-adolescent unit at St. Loman's and it is at present in course of planning. I agree, in principle, that an adolescent unit is required and steps to have it provided will be taken as soon as possible.