Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 2

Written Answers. - Services for the Mentally Handicapped.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

47 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the services available for the mentally handicapped in each of the health board areas; the allocations by his Department in each case; the number of persons on waiting lists for such services in each of the areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3460/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): A wide range of services has been developed in each health board region for people with a mental handicap. These services include assessment and early intervention services, pre-school, developmental day units, respite care, home support, vocational training, adult special care units and sheltered work facilities and residential services. In addition, the Department of Education provides educational services for children with a mild or moderate mental handicap in special schools and special classes in ordinary schools.

The estimated 1994 expenditure on services for people with a mental handicap, including expenditure on allowances such as the disabled person's maintenance allowance and the domiciliary care allowance, for each region is as follows:

	£m
Eastern	89.852
Midland	11.508
Mid-Western	22.300
North-Eastern	15.568
North-Western	14.379
South-Eastern	22.552
Southern	32.026
Western	29.885
Total	238.070

My Department is in the process of putting in place a national database on the needs of persons with a mental handicap.The database will provide information, on an ongoing basis, on the number of people with a mental handicap in each region, the number in receipt of services and those awaiting services, their current and future needs and the level of support which is required to meet those needs. Up-to-date information on numbers awaiting services will be available from the database later this year.

The provision of additional services for persons with a mental handicap has a very high priority within my Department.Since 1990 a cumulative figure of £26.5 million revenue and £6.08 million capital in additional funding has been invested in services for people with mental handicap. In line with the commitment contained in the policy documentA Government of Renewal, the Government is committed to eliminating waiting lists and to maximising the quality of life and right of participation of every citizen with a mental handicap. The Deputy will be aware that an additional £12 million is being made available in 1995 for the development of new services for people with mental handicap and to meet identified needs in existing services.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

48 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the services available in each health board area for persons diagnosed with autism; the allocations by his Department in each area; the number of persons in need of such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3461/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): Services for persons with autism are primarily provided through the mental handicap services. There are, however, some specific services available to persons with autism in the Eastern, Southern and Western Health Board areas.

A policy document on services for persons with autism was published by my Department in September 1994. This outlines my Department's policy on the provision of services and the future planning required for these services.I have sent a copy of this document to the Deputy.

Expenditure on services for persons with autism is included in the overall expenditure on services for persons with a mental handicap. Details of the overall numbers of persons with mental handicap awaiting services will be included in the information which will become available later this year from the national database on the needs of persons with a mental handicap. In the case of persons with autism the policy document recommends that health boards should establish a separate database for this group in their area.

As part of the 1994 development of services for people with a mental handicap, a total of £225,000 was made available to the health board regions for the development of plans for services for people with autism in response to the policy document. Each health board is currently examining the actual services in place and is actively preparing plans for the future development of services for this group. The implementation of these plans will be considered as part of the overall development of services for people with a mental handicap in 1995 and future years. As the Deputy is aware an additional £10 million is being provided for the development of new services for people with mental handicap in 1995.