Vol. 403 No. 3
17 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious difficulties and inadequacies in the service to the adult mentally handicapped in the Western Health Board region arising from cutbacks and funding shortfalls; and the plans he has to augment the funding towards the work of the Brothers of Charity and the health board.
76 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if he has agreed to allocate additional funding to the Brothers of Charity Centre, Clarenbridge, County Galway to enable the centre to accept further placements from their top priority list for residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
77 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Health the reason suffficient funds are not being made available to the Brothers of Charity Centre, Clarenbridge, County Galway, which caters for disabled and handicapped adults and is very underfunded; if he has received representations from this centre, or on behalf of this centre, for additional funding; and if a special allocation from the proceeds of the national lottery will be made available to the centre.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 76 and 77 together. There has been no reduction in the level of funding for the mental handicap services provided by the Western Health Board and the Brothers of Charity. This year approximately £24 million will be spent on services to people with mental handicap in the Western Health Board region.
Earlier this year I allocated £235,000 for additional services in this region. As a result, 19 residential places, 40 day care places and four respite places have been provided to meet immediate priority needs.
Officials of my Department met recently with the Brothers of Charity and discussed their financial situtation and their plans to further develop services. Their request for additional funds will be considered as sympathetically as possible in the light of the resources available in 1991 for the mental handicap services.
