Vol. 388 No. 8
asked the Minister for Health the general policy of his Department on whether the mentally handicapped should be cared for in residential centres, in day care centres, in hostels or in the community; if there has been any change in the general policy in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
132.
asked the Minister for Health if there has been any significant movement of people being cared for in centres for the mentally handicapped from these centres to hostels or to the community in any of the health board areas in recent times.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. In line with the best international practices, it is my policy that people with mental handicap should enjoy as normal a life as possible in a setting appropriate to their individual needs and that services would be developed to allow them to remain in their own community for as long as is possible. To achieve this, the following services have been developed to cater for the needs of individuals at different stages of their lives:
—Assessment and Early Intervention Services.
—Special Schools-Special Classes.
—Day Care Units.
—Vocational Training Units.
—Long-term Training Centres.
—Hostels and Houses in the Community.
—Residential Centres which would cater in the main for persons with severe handicap.
In line with this policy the development of community-based services and the transfer of people inappropriately placed in large residential centres is an ongoing process in each region.
133.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to plans by the North-Western Health Board to close or phase out the Cloonamahon Centre for the mentally handicapped in County Sligo; if he has given approval for the closure; the purpose of the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
134.
asked the Minister for Health the number of people in the Cloonamahon Centre for the Mentally Handicapped in County Sligo; the number in residential and day care; the number in the various age categories of patients; and the numbers in various medical categories such as mildly and moderately handicapped.
135.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of permanent staff and temporary staff employed by the North-Western Health Board in the Cloonamahon Centre for the Mentally Handicapped in County Sligo; and the various categories of these employees.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 134 and 135 together.
No proposals have been received from the North-Western Health Board in relation to the future of Cloonamahon. My Department, however, are aware that the board are considering the coordinating and development of the mental handicap services in the North-Western Health Board area and fully support the board in this objective. I am satisfied that the thrust of what is being considered is in the best interests of the persons catered for by these services and is in line with the best international practices.The developments will lead to a big extension of community services.
At 31 December 1988 the Cloonamahon Centre catered for 100 residents and 16 day attenders. Their ages and degree of handicap is outlined in the following tables.
Residents
|
Age |
Mild |
Degree of Handicap |
Total |
||
|
Moderate |
Severe |
Profound |
|||
|
5-14 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
15-19 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
20-24 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
25-34 |
5 |
17 |
2 |
24 |
|
|
35-44 |
2 |
15 |
9 |
26 |
|
|
45-54 |
11 |
3 |
15 |
||
|
55-64 |
7 |
10 |
17 |
||
|
65-74 |
2 |
2 |
|||
|
Total |
6 |
47 |
43 |
4 |
100 |
Day Attenders
|
Age |
Mild |
Degree of Handicap |
Total |
||
|
Moderate |
Severe |
Profound |
|||
|
0-14 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
5-14 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
9 |
|
|
15-19 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
20-24 |
|||||
|
25-34 |
2 |
2 |
|||
|
35-44 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Total |
1 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
16 |
The rounded whole time equivalents employed at 30 June 1988 is as follows:
|
Permanent |
Temporary |
|
|
Clerical/ Administrative |
2 |
— |
|
Medical/Dental |
— |
1 |
|
Nursing/Allied |
37 |
34 |
|
Paramedical |
— |
1 |
|
Catering/ Housekeeping |
18 |
5 |
|
Maintenance |
1 |
2 |
|
Others |
4 |
— |
|
Total |
62 |
43 |
