Vol. 448 No. 2
32 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been introduced to ensure that the parents and families of people with a mental handicap are adequately consulted and involved in the decision making processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/95]
Limerick East): The regional mental handicap co-ordinating committees, which operate in seven of the eight health board areas, include representatives of the parents and families of people with a mental handicap as well as the health boards and voluntary mental handicap agencies. The parent representatives in each case are nominated by the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland.
The co-ordinating committees identify priorities for service developments, agree plans for the development of services for each region and recommend development priorities as resources become available.
A parent's committee operates in the North Western Health Board region which has a similar input to the decision making process as the co-ordinating committees in the other health board regions.
Apart from the involvement of parents at the regional co-ordinating committee level, health boards and other service providers try at all times to consult and involve parents and families in the planning of services for their family member with a mental handicap.
