asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of autistic children on a waiting list for admission to the only autistic unit in the Republic have been told that admission is now indefinitely delayed; and if, in view of the fact that no other facilities are available, he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter, indicating what proposals he has to provide extra accommodation and when he proposes to provide it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accommodation for Autistic Children.
76.
A unit at St. Loman's Hospital, Ballyowen, County Dublin, for the treatment of mentally ill children, including autistic children, was established in 1963. This unit was to an appreciable extent experimental as was indicated in a reply given by my predecessor to Deputy Clinton on 1st March, 1966. In addition to the residential unit at St. Loman's Hospital, there is a day centre at St. Kevin's Hospital, Dublin, for emotionally disturbed children. Work will start soon on a pre-adolescent unit of ten beds at St. Loman's Hospital and the Dublin Health Authority are proposing to convert a building at St. Brendan's Hospital, Dublin, into a unit for adolescents.
I am aware that Dublin Health Authority recently advised applicants from outside Dublin that owing to pressure on the beds available, it would not be possible to admit their children in the foreseeable future.
I have been aware for some time of the need to provide a further unit, or units, similar to that at St. Loman's and I have had under examination the problem of where such a unit could be provided. The shortage of adequately trained staff is a major difficulty. However, I hope that it may be possible to provide at least one unit outside Dublin in the not too distant future.
Will the Minister not agree that this has created disquiet among the people engaged in this kind of work, and particularly among the parents and children? In view of the fact that Ballyowen is the only unit in Ireland catering for this type of child, will the Minister either provide forthwith services outside the area of Dublin Health Authority or else ask Dublin Health Authority to reconsider their decision? I would appeal to the Minister to co-operate with all the health authorities to solve this problem. I can assure him he will get the full co-operation of the health authority of which I am a member.
It is important to point out that the terms "autistic" and "autism" are very loosely used. They are perhaps used to cover a wider range than the connotation of the words themselves deserve. On 5th December last, when Dublin Health Authority proposed that admissions be restricted to Dublin children, there were 19 children on the waiting list and of these, only nine were from country areas. As I pointed out in my reply, I am doing everything I can to provide a unit outside Dublin. But I doubt, when people refer to autistic children, if they are not in fact referring to generally mentally-handicapped children.
Further arising out of that reply——
I am calling Question No. 77.
Would I be allowed to ask one more supplementary, Sir?
I will not allow another question.
It is very important.
The whole thing is important.
I wish to express my disappointment with your ruling, Sir.