asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the total range of services available for the treatment and care of autistic children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Autistic Children.
13.
As I have said in reply to previous questions on the subject, there is no generally accepted definition of autism. The term is used to describe a particular illness but is also used to cover a number of different illnesses in children.
Services provided by health boards, including psychiatric services, are available to mentally ill and mentally handicapped children. In addition, diagnostic, assessment and advisory services are provided by specialist teams for children suffering from mental handicap. 2,290 places for children are provided in the special residential homes for the mentally handicapped and there are 265 beds in special centres provided by health boards. Child guidance clinics are provided by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God at Orwell Road, Rathgar, by the Mercy Order at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, and, in Cork, by the Cork Polio and After-Care Association.
The residential unit at St. Loman's Hospital, Ballyowen, County Dublin, provides accommodation for 40 mentally ill children, including autistic children. The residential unit is complemented by a day centre at Garden Hill, St. James's Hospital. Schools are provided at St. Loman's Hospital and at Garden Hill. St. Paul's Hospital, Beaumont, Dublin, provides residential accommodation for 24 children. A school is also planned for this hospital.
Plans by the Cork Polio and After-Care Association for the provision of a residential unit are well advanced.