asked the Minister for Health if he is prepared to make provision for payment by his Department of the costs involved in the treatment of mentally handicapped children and adults.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Treatment of Mentally Handicapped.
111.
The expenditure incurred by health authorities in the treatment of the mentally handicapped is eligible to rank for recoupment from the health services grant on the same basis as in the case of all other approved health services, and I do not consider that I would be justified in asking the legislature to vary that arrangement as proposed.
112.
asked the Minister for Health what plans he has for catering for mentally retarded boys in the Limerick region.
Accommodation for the mentally handicapped is not provided on a county basis and there are no proposals to build a special centre for boys in Limerick.
There are, however, plans on hand for the provision of about 750 additional places in different areas. This additional accommodation will, I believe, meet the needs of severely and moderately mentally handicapped children who are in need of institutional care.
Pending the completion of the present programme, which includes an extension to the existing mental handicap centre in County Limerick, I have approved of temporary arrangements by a number of health authorities for the care of severely handicapped children in health authority institutions which could be made available for the purpose. I have recently asked the Limerick Health Authority to consider such an arrangement for their area.