Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Mar 1990

Vol. 396 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sheltered Housing.

Michael Ferris

Question:

1 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with the Minister for the Environment regarding the need for specially designed community based sheltered housing and other forms of special needs housing, including group homes, to cater for the elderly persons, handicapped persons and other socially vulnerable categories who have difficulty coping on their own but do not need full institutional care or to occupy long stay institutional places; and the action he will take to provide assistance towards on-site non-institutional care services in special needs housing where this is necessary.

Dr. O'Hanlon

The housing of the elderly is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment. Officials of my Department have had discussions with officials of the Department of the Environment about the provision of health board services to residents of housing schemes for the elderly. The local authorities and the health boards have cooperated in the installation of emergency communication systems for the elderly to enable them to live at home independently but with adequate support in an emergency. It is the policy of my Department to encourage health boards to expand care services to the elderly, including those resident in local authority and voluntary housing schemes. The additional allocation of £5 million to expand services for the elderly announced earlier this year will enable health boards to improve the range of home and community support available to elderly people, including those resident in sheltered housing schemes.

Mr. Ferris

I am aware that the responsibility for rehousing people is on the Minister for the Environment, but this question asks if the Minister had consultations with him about specially designed community based sheltered housing. Let me ask the Minister if the type of project in Morton Street, Clonmel, which was built by the Minister's Department through the health board, has been followed through in other areas to meet a very special need. This has not been addressed by the Department of the Environment and is solely the Minister's responsibility particularly——

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, Deputy Ferris, this is Question Time. Brief supplementary questions please.

Mr. Ferris

I am asking the Minister if he is assuming his responsibility in this special category area which has been spelled out in the question. It has nothing to do with——

An Ceann Comhairle

I think the Deputy had made his point.

Dr. O'Hanlon

Yes, of course the Department are assuming their responsibilities in these matters. A number of organisations are providing services for the disabled and in doing so have made use of the grant scheme of £20,000 per unit which is available towards the provision of housing for disadvantaged persons. For example, the Irish Wheelchair Association in Clontarf provided such accommodation. The Cheshire Foundation propose to make use of the scheme to build units in Sligo and Letterkenny with support services provided by the North-Western Health Board. The scheme is also being availed of to a significant degree by the mental handicap agencies. Five year plans for the development of day and residential mental handicap services are being produced by regional co-ordinating committees at the moment. This may include a further development of this nature.

Mr. Ferris

The Minister has itemised the voluntary agencies who are doing this work. Does he intend to proceed with the type of facility in Morton Street, Clonmel, sheltered type housing built specifically through the health boards? I want him to consult with the Minister for the Environment, but I am asking about his own responsibility through health boards in this area. It is a specialised area and has a health dimension to it.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are having repetition.

Mr. Ferris

I am getting no answer.

Dr. O'Hanlon

It would be a matter for individual health boards to cater for the needs of the handicapped in their area. Of course, as the Deputy knows, it is the policy of the Government and the Department to ensure that adequate and proper housing is provided for those who are handicapped and to ensure that the handicapped and the elderly can live in their own homes and in the community as long as possible.

An Ceann Comhairle

Let us now proceed with other questions to the same Minister.