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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 7

Written Answers. - Mentally Handicapped Facilities.

Fergus O'Brien

Question:

29 Mr. O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with a disability and their carers as an equal social partner by ensuring that the identified needs for 1,200 residential places and for 100 respite places are filled.

John Bruton

Question:

44 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with a disability and their carers as an equal social partner by ensuring that the identified needs for 1,200 residential places and for 100 respite places are filled.

Michael Joe Cosgrave

Question:

71 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with a disability and their carers as an equal social partner by ensuring that the identified needs for 1,200 residential places and for 100 respite places are filled.

John Bruton

Question:

73 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with a disability and their carers as an equal social partner by ensuring that the identified needs for 1,200 residential places and for 100 respite places are filled.

Alan Shatter

Question:

74 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with a disability and their carers as an equal social partner by ensuring that the identified needs for 1,200 residential places and for 100 respite places are filled.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

77 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with a disability and their carers as an equal social partner by ensuring that the identified needs for 1,200 residential places and for 100 respite places are filled.

Nora Owen

Question:

87 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with a disability and their carers as an equal social partner by ensuring that the identified needs for 1,200 residential places and for 100 respite places are filled.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

88 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to meet the Parents Association for People with a Mental Handicap to include them in the decision-making process in the disbursement of extra funds for mental handicap facilities this year.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 44, 71, 73, 74, 77, 87 and 88 together.

Persons with disabilities and their families are directly involved and consulted by the service providing agencies about their needs. These needs are reflected in the plans drawn up for development of services in each health board region. In addition, health boards have been asked to ensure that parents are consulted and kept informed on a regular basis about development plans for their areas.

It is also the practice for the Minister for Health and his Department to meet regularly with the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped, which is a representative body for parents' associations and which I intend will continue. The Parents Association for People with a Mental Handicap is affiliated to the national association.
It is intended to provide additional residential and respite services for persons with a mental handicap under the provisions of theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress and the Programme for Government. An additional £68 million was made available by the Government this year to provide additional services, including residential and respite places.
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