Vol. 441 No. 3
60 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that adequate financial and staff resources are available in the psychiatric services, with particular reference to the special needs arising from the transition from institutional to community based care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
89 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Health whether he has satisfied himself that sufficient resources have been put in place to provide for the de-institutionalisation of special hospital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 89, together.
Considerable progress has been made in pursuing a policy of diverting patients from a predominantly institutionalised form of care to more appropriate community based care facilities. Each health board has submitted detailed plans to my Department on strategies to be adopted in order to accelerate the development of this policy up to 1997. I am confident that the funds to be made available to my Department under the health commitments of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work will ensure that continued development of community psychiatric services.
