asked the Minister for Health if he will give particulars of what plans are on hand to provide adequate institutional accommodation for mentally handicapped children in the country in general and Dublin in particular.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Handicapped Children.
35.
Mr. O'Malley
In the special residential institutions for the mentally handicapped there are now 3,534 places as compared with 3,111 places on 31st December, 1964. 40 extra places for children are under construction at these special centres and a further 200 places are being planned. In addition, the possibility is being examined of using for mental handicap purposes a number of other premises and I am hopeful that the use of some of these will, in the fairly near future, afford a considerable measure of relief.
At present, the services for the mentally handicapped are not organised on a county or regional basis. Services for the Dublin region will, of course, be improved in line with improvements for the country generally.