Vol. 369 No. 9
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the many ill and aged parents of mentally handicapped people who are no longer able to cope; if he is further aware of the lack of residential places available; the number of such places available; the age groups for which they are available; and if he will make a general policy statement on the matter.
42.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that young mentally handicapped adults on reaching 18 years of age are being discharged from residential care to their own homes, where in some cases their parents because of age and infirmity are unable to look after them; and if he will provide the necessary funds to ensure that in such cases this practice is discontinued.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 42 together. I am aware that the present level of service provision particularly for mentally handicapped adults does not as yet meet all needs. To identify particular areas and to draw up guidelines for the future development of the service, an urgent review of the mental handicap service is being undertaken by my Department. This review is being carried out largely by way of consultation with the persons and organisations involved in the provision of the service. The review began in June 1986 and I expect it to complete its work by the end of this year.
The number of mentally handicapped people in residential care is 5,872. In 1982 the number was 5,816. The following table details the age groups and numbers of mentally handicapped people in residential care:
|
Age Group |
No. in residential care |
|
0-4 years |
37 |
|
5-14 years |
1,022 |
|
15-19 years |
1,002 |
|
20-34 years |
2,115 |
|
35-54 years |
1,345 |
|
55+ years |
351 |
My Department's policy in relation to the provision of residential care for mentally handicapped people, is that long-stay residential care should only be provided when, following assessment, other alternatives such as family support and hostel accommodation are considered inappropriate.
I appreciate all the information the Minister gave me, but he did not answer my question. I asked him if he would provide funds to ensure that severely handicapped young adults will not be sent home from residential care to parents who, because of age and infirmity, are unable to look after them. What is happening around the country in this regard is an absolute scandal. Strong, able-bodied mentally handicapped young adults have been sent home to old age pensioners who cannot cope with them. Will the Minister provide funds to ensure that they will be maintained in residential care where they should be?
It needs to be said in the most emphatic way that there has been no reduction whatsoever in the number of residential places for mentally handicapped persons. Quite deliberately I included in the reply the information that despite the considerable financial difficulties with which I have been faced we have opened an extra 55 residential places in recent years. There are now 5,872 mentally handicapped persons in residential care and I hope to open more places in the near future. There is much malicious propaganda going around, not least those appalling Fianna Fáil hoardings in public streets, which is causing severe distress to the parents and families of mentally handicapped persons. As the Deputy knows, I have been endeavouring as a matter of priority to take another 2,000 people out of the psychiatric hospitals where they are, in addition to the 5,800 now in care. I want to take some of them out of care but I am being impeded by a large number of politicians, notably from the Deputy's party.
I am sure the Deputy will share my opinion that there is a necessity to open up some additional places because we have an extra quota of acute profoundly handicapped adults who are, understandably, living longer with better medical care but whose parents have become very old and who are dying and who themselves need to be put into residential care. I repeat that there have been no cutbacks: I have spent more only on the care of the mentally handicapped than any other Minister in the history of the State. We are increasing the budget for the mentally handicapped at the rate of 6 per cent or 7 per cent per annum when the budgets of other health agencies are being increased by no more than 3 per cent.
There has been a cutback in St. Michael's.
I am disappointed that the Minister politicised this matter. Indeed it is a disgrace because this is a matter of great importance. The Minister told us he will open this, that and the other. I am asking him if he will provide funds to ensure that these young adults will not be sent home to parents who are unable to cater for them. For example, there are several young adults in St. Mary's from the North-Eastern Health Board alone. Will he ensure that they will be maintained there, that they will not be sent home because of lack of funds?
That is a residential centre catering for mentally handicapped girls. A number of these girls have reached adulthood and they are still in residence in St. Mary's. The management there have indicated they have the space but may require extra staff. The Midland Health Board are at present reviewing the entire range of services for mentally handicapped persons and St. Mary's is part of that review. I assure the Deputy I will do my utmost to cater for that need but as of last December we had nearly 1,000 mildly handicapped people and 2,500 moderately handicapped people in residential care. They have been there for a long time and for those who are mildly handicapped I am very reluctant to authorise residential care. As far as possible, our mentally handicapped people should be living with us as we live and work, not put into institutions, no matter how wonderful may be the care in them. It is best that they be kept in the community as part of our daily lives. Therefore, I wish to put down a marker about residential care — it is not necessarily the best life, particularly for those who are mildly handicapped who do not require residential care.
Question No.
43. We have spent two-thirds of the time on one-fifth of the questions.
The Minister took up the time answering questions he as not asked.
