Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 1980

Vol. 322 No. 5

Written Answers. - Care of Mentally III Children.

392.

asked the Minister for Health if he will state in relation to each Health Board area: (a) the number of persons under 16 years accommodated in adult psychiatric wards; (b) the number of these categorised as (i) emotionally disturbed and (ii) as mentally handicapped; (c) the number who would benefit from a different form of care other than that available in a adult psychiatric ward; and (d) the plans he has, in conjunction with the Health Boards, to make long-term care facilities available for emotionally disturbed or mentally handicapped children who need to be cared for outside their homes.

The information requested is as follows: (a) (b) and (c):

Health Board Area

Number of persons under 16 years in adult psychiatric wards

Category

Southern Health Board

3

2 Disturbed mentally handicapped

1 Emotionally disturbed

South Eastern Health Board

1

Disturbed mentally handicapped

There are no such persons in the other six health board areas.

It is considered that these four persons would be more appropriately placed outside of the psychiatric hospital setting if suitable alternative accommodation was available.

(d) The approved capital programme for my Department includes provision for a number of projects in various parts of the country which in completion will inter alia, provide specialised accommodation for disturbed mentally handicapped children and adolescents. Special child psychiatric residential facilities for emotionally disturbed children and adolescents are available in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. The Eastern, North Western and South Eastern Health Boards envisage the development of further such facilities at Dublin, Waterford and Sligo. The timescale for the provision of these new facilities will depend on the availability of resources.

Top
Share