Services for people with a mental illness, a mental handicap and the dependent elderly at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane are the responsibility of the Eastern Health Board. The board's proposals for these services are in line with Government policy as expressed in three policy documents "Planning for the Future", "Needs and Abilities" and "The Years Ahead" dealing with services for the mentally ill, the mentally handicapped and the elderly respectively. These policy documents advocate the development of a comprehensive range of facilities in general hospitals and in the community for these client groups.