asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for the provision of premises for young mentally handicapped in the North Eastern Health Board area as there is none within this four county region.
Written Answers. - Accommodation for Mentally Handicapped.
99.
Services for mentally handicapped people in the North Eastern Health Board area are provided in: (1) St. Mary's Drumcar, County Louth; (2) St. Mary's Special Care Unit, Athlumney, Navan, County Meath; (3) Holy Family Special School and Care Unit, Cootehill, County Cavan; (4) Drumlin House, Vocational Training Centre, Cootehill, County Cavan.
Mentally handicapped people also attend: (5) The Sheltered Workshop, Ardee Road, Dundalk; (6) Order of Malta Workshop, Industrial Estate, Drogheda; (7) Dundlak Training Centre; (8) Rehabilitation Institute, Cavan.
The following developments have recently been completed/are in progress: (1) A major improvement scheme including new residential accommodation has been completed in St. Mary's, Drumcar (costing in the region of £1.5 million). To facilitate the commissioning of these units a total of 34 additional staff were approved in the period 1984-85; (2) Planning is currently under way on the building of an extension to the Cootehill Day Care Unit to provide an extra 25 places; (3) A hostel for children attending the Holy Family Special School has been completed but has not yet been brought into operation.
The question of providing funds for the building of or the commissioning of further facilities for mentally handicaped people in the North Eastern Region will be considered as sympathetically as possible in the light of the resources available to me for the development of the mental handicap services.