Nuala Fennell
Question:289 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Health the number of severely handicapped people, over 20, in the Eastern Health Board area who have applied for residential care.
Written Answers. - Residential Care Applications.
I assume the Deputy's question relates to people with a severe mental handicap.
Information on the number of persons with mental handicap over 20 years old currently awaiting residential care is not readily available. The survey of expressed demand compiled by the Eastern Health Board provides information on persons over 16 years of age and there are 120 such persons wait-listed for care in 1991.
Nuala Fennell
Question:290 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Health the number of severely handicapped people who have secured residential accommodation in State-financed centres in 1988 and 1989.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the number of new admissions of people with mental handicap to residential centres during 1988 and 1989. This information is not readily available. I have arranged to have it collected and I will provide it to the Deputy as soon as it is available. However, 5,180 people were in receipt of residential services in 1987.