asked the Minister for Health if having regard to the significant success of the biochemical screening survey of the mentally handicapped in the Dublin district conducted by the biochemical laboratory research unit of Dublin Health Authority, he will arrange that the services of the unit will be made available to the entire country on a satisfactory permanent basis; and if he will ensure that the unit is adequately staffed with competent qualified permanent staff who enjoy satisfactory conditions of service and remuneration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Biochemical Screening Survey.
13.
A survey of inborn errors of metabolism in mentally handicapped children was commenced by Dublin Health Authority in 1965 and is still proceeding. My Department are awaiting a report which the health authority has undertaken to submit before the end of this month indicating what conclusions can be drawn from the tests so far completed. I will consider what arrangements should be made for the future in the light of this report.
Is the Minister aware that the working of this excellent unit has been handicapped to some extent by the loss of qualified staff who, because of insecurity, because of the fact that they were temporary and the fact that the conditions of service were unsatisfactory have now emigrated? Even still there are some people in the unit who are on a temporary basis. Having regard to the certainty that this work will continue, because even an interim observation indicates the excellent value it has been, would the Minister ensure that his Department now approve of this unit and its staffing on a permanent and satisfactory basis?
We already have a national screening service for such maladies as are capable of treatment arising from metabolic examination. The Deputy knows that and, in the light of the report, naturally we will consider whether the staff requires strengthening or being made more permanent.
Can the Minister say on what basis the Dublin Health Authority are rewarded for any test they carry out on behalf of other health authorities? My information is that there is no satisfactory arrangement with the result that a number of potentially handicapped people are not getting the attention which they might otherwise get and which they so badly need.
The Deputy will have to ask another question about that. I could not give him the exact particulars.