asked the Minister for Health how many severely retarded children are at present awaiting admission for institutional treatment and care; and what plans he has to deal with these waiting applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retarded Children.
44.
At 31st March last there were 321 severely mentally handicapped children on Health Authority waiting lists for admission to special institutions.
Plans for dealing with the waiting list include the provision of extensions to the existing mentally handicapped centres at St. Raphael's (Celbridge), Moore Abbey (Monasterevan), St. Mary's (Delvin), St. Vincent's (Lisnagry), St. Patrick's (Kilkenny), Cregg House (Sligo) and premises of the Cork Polio and General After-Care Association in Cork. As a temporary expedient it has also been arranged that the fever hospitals at Ennis and Carndonagh and the former sanatorium at Roscrea are to be used shortly for the care of the severely handicapped children. It is expected that these measures will provide accommodation for 403 additional children.
As I explained to the House, when dealing with my Department's Estimates on 23rd February last, other possibilities are also being explored and it is my hope that the next two years will see a very great easing of the problem of residential care not only for the severely handicapped but also for the moderately handicapped.