asked the Minister for Health what facilities are available in Dublin for the further treatment of mentally handicapped patients who have been discharged from schools on reaching the age of 16 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Handicapped Patients.
78.
Mentally handicapped persons who have been discharged from schools and who may require further care may have recourse to the existing facilities available in the special centres for the mentally handicapped. There are plans for the provision of additional places in these centres.
There are at present limited facilities for training for employment and for work in sheltered conditions in the Dublin area. I anticipate that as part of the development of mentally handicapped services there will be an expansion of these facilities in the near future.
The National Rehabilitation Board also makes its placement service available to mentally handicapped persons discharged from schools.
Would the Minister list the centres which are available for the further treatment of the mentally handicapped discharged from schools on reaching the age of 16 years?
St. Augustine's, Blackrock; The Holy Angels, Glenmaroon; St. Teresa's, Blackrock; The Stewart Hospital, Palmerstown; St. Vincent's, Navan Road; St. Michael's, Grosvenor Road; St. Michael's, Ballymun; St. John of God, Celbridge.
Has the Minister's Department made inquiries at these centres to see if vacancies exist at the moment for mentally retarded patients discharged from schools on reaching 16 years of age?
Yes.
Could I have the result of the investigation?
Certainly: there are no vacancies.
There are vacancies?
There are not.
Now we are hearing something different. I asked the Minister for Health if he would state what facilities are available in Dublin for the further treatment of mentally handicapped patients who have been discharged from schools on reaching the age of 16 years and now he says there are no vacancies.
There are not enough vacancies.
Question No. 79.