Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1992

Vol. 420 No. 6

Written Answers. - Residential Accommodation for Mentally Handicapped Person.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

124 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health the arrangements, if any, he intends to make for a mentally handicapped person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose condition is such that he requires permanent round-the-clock care and attention, whose mother cannot physically manage him, and who is unable to secure a residential place in any of the psychiatric hospitals in County Kildare or the surrounding area.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

It is not appropriate that I should refer to individual details about the person referred to in my reply. I will communicate separately with the Deputy on the matter.

I want to assure the Deputy that the improvement of services to people with mental handicap is one of my main priorities. It is the policy of my Department that persons with mental handicap should not be admitted to psychiatric hospitals unless they have an underlying psychiatric disorder which cannot be treated in any other way. The report of the Review Group on Mental Handicap Services endorses this policy. It recommends that an assessment be carried out of the circumstances and needs of each person with mental handicap in a psychiatric hospital. If the assessment indicates that it would be inappropriate to transfer the person, he or she will continue to be cared for in the psychiatric services in de-designated accommodation in as homely an environment as possible. If the assessment indicates that the person with mental handicap no longer needs care in a psychiatric setting, the report recommends that he or she should transfer to a mental handicap service.

My Department has appointed an adviser with expertise in the care of persons with mental handicap in psychiatric hospitals to work with the the health boards and voluntary agencies to prepare a programme to provide better services for people with mental handicap in the psychiatric hospitals which will be agreed before the end of this year.