Vol. 251 No. 11
asked the Minister for Health the total number of (a) severely, (b) moderately and (c) mildly handicapped children in Ireland on the waiting list for admission to suitable homes and schools in the years 1960, 1965 and 1970; if he is aware that many of these children have been on this waiting list for years and are thereby deprived of proper medical care and attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
4.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of (a) severely, (b) moderately and (c) mildly handicapped children in County Laois on the waiting list for admission to suitable homes and schools in the years 1960, 1965 and 1970.
5.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of (a) severely, (b) moderately and (c) mildly handicapped children in County Offaly on the waiting list for admission to suitable homes and schools in the years 1960, 1965 and 1970.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 4, and 5, together.
The detailed figures requested are available for the years 1965 and 1970 and, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate them with the Official Report. Comparable figures are not available for the year 1960.
Following is the statement:
CHILDREN on Waiting Lists for admission to mental handicap institutions.
|
Mild |
Moderate |
Severe |
Total |
|
|
1965: |
||||
|
County Laois |
— |
— |
9 |
9 |
|
County Offaly |
— |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
National Figures |
157 |
299 |
369 |
825 |
|
1970: |
||||
|
County Laois |
2 |
6 |
6 |
14 |
|
County Offaly |
8 |
6 |
8 |
22 |
|
National Figures |
161 |
338 |
370 |
869 |
NOTE: The increase in the waiting lists from 1965 to 1970, despite the increase in accommodation provided in the meantime, is due to the greater willingness of parents of handicapped children to send them to institutions for training.
In reply to previous Parliamentary Questions, I gave particulars of the steps which are being taken to provide additional residential places for the mentally handicapped. Briefly, the position is that since 1965 over 1,000 places have been provided and there are at present schemes in course of construction or in planning which will provide a further 1,500 places. These schemes include about 1,000 places for adults, but the provision of these adult places will, in many cases, result in the release of accommodation for children. The programme when completed will meet the targets set by the Commission of Inquiry on Mental Handicap for residential accommodation for severely and moderately handicapped children and adults.
In addition, the numbers of mentally handicapped persons attending services on a day basis has increased fourfold since 1965. I am confident that with the completion of the programme for residential places and the further development of services on a day basis, the problem of the waiting period for residential centre will no longer be a significant one.
Would the Minister not agree that most of these special centres to which he has referred are under the control of voluntary organisations and that the Minister has not power to direct the admission of patients? Will the Minister not agree that this curtails somewhat the power of the Department of Health when the centres are under the control of voluntary organisations? Would the Minister not agree that it would be essential for the Department to take a more positive interest in this matter? Further, is the Minister in a position to state in regard to Question No. 3 if the number of patients awaiting admission is on an upward or downward trend?
The Deputy had better read the reply to the question about the numbers. In some cases the numbers have increased slightly because more persons have been brought to the notice of the Department owing to the growing knowledge of what can be done for handicapped children. Secondly, I see no reason to do more than remain in close contact with the organisations, most of whom are religious orders, in organising these places. We have a national mental handicap association which I hope will give me advice about the extent to which there should be more co-ordination in the sharing of facilities. Perhaps in course of time certain institutions might be asked to deal with a particular class of patient. However, in view of the magnificent work of the religious orders and the fact that they are accepting vacancies as quickly as they can, I would not dream of putting them under any further direction than they are at the moment.
I agree with the Minister that the religious orders are doing an excellent job and I should like to compliment them. The Minister stated that the numbers awaiting admission are on the increase. Would the Minister not agree because of the long delay and the fact that these children are suffering quite severely that more attention should be given to this matter?
I am doing all I can to arrange for these places. When the Deputy sees the reply and bears in mind the fact that since 1968 some 102 children in Laois and Offaly have been placed in residential centres, and when he sees the number that are awaiting entry, he will find the position in his county is not unreasonable. There are other counties with a more severe problem.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the serious lack of institutional care available for mentally handicapped children in County Roscommon; and what plans his Department has for dealing with the situation.
I am well aware that there is at present a shortage of places at special residential centres for mentally handicapped children in need of such care and I have already outlined the steps which are being taken to provide additional places. Pending the provision of the extra places which are being planned on a countrywide basis, I have approved of a proposal to provide a small temporary unit at St. Patrick's, Castlerea, for the care of severely handicapped children. A similar temporary unit has already been provided at St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, and patients are being admitted to that unit.
