asked the Minister for Health the number of mentally handicapped persons who are on waiting lists for residential care in the administrative area of the Eastern Health Board, distinguishing between the number of adults and children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Residential Care.
86.
On 22 October 1982 there were 112 adults and 174 children on the central waiting list for residential care which is maintained by the Eastern Health Board.
87.
asked the Minister for Health the plans in his Department to construct additional residential care centres for (a) mentally handicapped adults and (b) mentally handicapped children within the administrative area of the Eastern Health Board, indicating the date on which each such unit will become operational.
There are at present a number of projects for the Eastern Health Board area at various stages of planning and building which will provide 420 additional residential places for adults and 80 additional residential places for children. It is not possible to state when precisely each of these units will become operational as progress on planning and building will depend on the availability of capital resources. Furthermore, the question of bringing the units into operation will depend on the availability of the necessary revenue resources. It would be my intention, however, given the urgency surrounding all of these projects, to ensure that they are all brought into operation as speedily as possible.