Residential educational facilities for pupils with a mild mental handicap are provided in the Eastern Health Board region by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God at St. Augustine's, Blackrock, and by the Daughters of Charity at Holy Angels, Glenmaroon.
The reorganisation of the health services in the Eastern Health Board area will include a single new authority which will be responsible for all health and personal social services in the eastern region. It will take over the present function of the Eastern Health Board as well as some of the functions of the Department of Health and will ensure that health services in the region are delivered in an integrated and co-ordinated way.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government are already committed to the development of the mental handicap and psychiatric services under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
The position regarding the case referred to by the Deputy is that the Eastern Health Board are aware of this person's special needs. Pending the provision of a suitable residential place, the health board provided a child care worker in the home to relieve the situation. The person has since left and the health board are in the process of recruiting a replacement. I would like to assure the Deputy that the Eastern Health Board are exploring every option to locate an appropriate service to meet the special needs of this person.
