Dermot Fitzpatrick
Question:125 Dr. Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when it is expected that Cheeverstown House in Dublin will be fully opened and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cheeverstown House, Dublin.
In May 1991 the Board of Cheeverstown House and the Eastern Health Board agreed to the appointment of a third party to oversee the implementation of an agreement negotiated in October 1990. This decision enabled the then Minister for Health to provide funding in June 1991 to open 20 additional residential places in Cheeverstown House.
As the agreement of October 1990 provided that a chief executive officer be appointed before the places were opened, the clients to occupy these places were identified and placed in temporary accommodation in late 1991 in other mental handicap agencies in the Dublin area pending the opening of the places in Cheeverstown House. A total of 37 clients benefited from this additional service provision.
A chief executive officer of Cheeverstown House was appointed on 1 April 1992. Following discussions between the Eastern Health Board and Cheeverstown House it was agreed that the 20 places would be opened on a phased basis between mid-July and late September 1992. As some of the places will be used for respite care, the 37 clients will continue to benefit from the additional funding made available to Cheeverstown.
The October 1990 agreement provides for further places to be opened in 1993 on condition that the implementation of the agreement will continue into 1993, overseen by the third party.