Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Mar 1995

Vol. 449 No. 8

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

73 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health if he will state for each of the years 1990 to 1994 the numbers of patients in each of the homes for mentally handicapped persons administered by voluntary bodies; whether these patients are in residential day-care or workshop facilities; the numbers in the category of mild, moderate, severe and profound; the ages of each patient; the numbers of staff employed permanently, on contract and temporarily in each of the homes in medical, paramedical, nursing, care workers and administration and management. [4602/95]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. O'Shea)

The information in the form sought by the Deputy is not routinely collected by the Department. However, I am arranging to have the available data collated and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

74 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with a mental handicap who are patients in psychiatric hospitals. [4603/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The number of patients with a mental handicap accommodated in psychiatric hospitals at 28 February 1995 is 902. Approximately 80 of these patients are at present in the process of moving to community-based mental handicap services.

A further 278 such patients are accommodated in designated accommodation in these hospitals. This total figure of 1,180 compares with a total of 1,389 at December 1992.