Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 4

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

220 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the services which are available to persons with a mental handicap in conformity with Table F3 in his Department's 1988 Health Statistics in (1) 1989 and (2) 1990; and if he will further outline his projections of the increased number of places provided under each category during each of the years 1990 and 1991.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The level of service provision for people with a mental handicap in 1989 and 1990 is outlined in the following tables.

In 1990 the Government provided an additional £2 million in the budget which provided an additional 149 residential places, 21 respite places catering for about 200 people, 442 day places and over 25 staff for other supports. These additional places are reflected in the 1990 table. In this year's budget a further £1 million was provided to build on last year's developments. This provision will enable 20 residential places to be provided in Cheeverstown House and 27 residential places to be provided in Aras Attracta, Swinford as well as additional respite care in each health board area.

Level of Service Provision for People with Mental Handicap in 1989

Setting/Service	Number of Centres	Age Range	Degree of Handicap	Overall Total
Mild	Moderate Severe and Profound	All Degrees
Male	Female	Male	Female	Total Male	Total Female
Special residential centres operated by health boards and voluntary agencies Hostels and supervised lodgings	53	All ages	289	237	2,100	2,007	2,389	2,244	4,633
	Under 15	40	26	286	203	326	229	555
	Over 15	249	211	1,814	1,804	2,063	2,015	4,078
212	All ages	218	147	442	377	660	524	1,184
	Under 15	38	10	27	29	65	39	104
	Over 15	180	137	415	348	595	485	1,080
Day care attenders at special residential centres operated by voluntary agencies	22	All ages	21	48	213	262	234	310	544
	Under 15	7	6	104	70	111	76	187
	Over 15	14	42	109	192	123	234	357
Day workshop and training centres, at special residential centres operated by health boards and voluntary agencies	15	All ages	86	95	129	130	215	225	440
	Under 15	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Over 15	86	95	129	130	215	225	440
Day care centres	58	All ages	88	67	680	524	768	591	1,359
		Under 15	79	50	412	283	491	333	824
		Over 15	9	17	268	241	277	258	535
Day workshops and occupational training centres	75	All ages	660	543	922	741	1,582	1,284	2,866
	Under 15	1	1	6	5	7	6	13
	Over 15	659	542	916	736	1,575	1,278	2,853
Totals	435	All ages	1,362	1,137	4,486	4,041	5,848	5,178	11,026
		Under 15	165	93	835	590	1,000	683	1,683
		Over 15	1,197	1,044	3,651	3,451	4,848	4,495	9,343

Level of Service Provision for People with Mental Handicap in 1990

Setting/Service	Number of Centres	Age Range	Degree of Handicap	Overall Total
Mild	Moderate Severe and Profound	All Degrees
Male	Female	Male	Female	Total Male	Total Female
Special residential centres operated by health boards and voluntary agencies Hostels and supervised lodgings	55	All ages	228	155	2,120	2,045	2,348	2,200	4,548
	Under 15	32	9	247	171	279	180	459
	Over 15	196	146	1,873	1,874	2,069	2,020	4,089
242	All ages	218	186	554	534	772	720	1,492
	Under 15	24	17	27	19	51	36	87
	Over 15	194	169	527	515	721	684	1,405
Day care attenders at special residential centres operated by health boards and voluntary agencies	30	All ages	62	35	302	242	364	276	640
	Under 15	22	14	142	97	164	111	275
	Over 15	40	21	160	145	200	165	365
Day workshop and training centres, at special residential centres operated by health boards and voluntary agencies	15	All ages	57	37	119	127	176	164	340
	Under 15	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Over 15	57	37	119	127	176	164	340
Day care centres	66	All ages	62	44	726	581	788	625	1,413
		Under 15	35	22	368	250	403	272	675
		Over 15	27	22	358	331	385	353	738
Day workshops and occupational training centres	86	All ages	711	567	953	852	1,664	1,419	3,083
	Under 15	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Over 15	711	567	953	852	1,664	1,419	3,083
Totals	494	All ages	1,338	1,024	4,774	4,381	6,112	5,404	11,516
		Under 15	13	62	784	537	897	599	1,496
		Over 15	1,225	962	3,990	3,844	5,215	4,805	10,020