Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 5

Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

36 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Health his views on the funds available for the St. John of God Community Mental Health Service at Cluain Mhuire; if his attention has been drawn to the effective reduction in funding which has had the effect of only covering 30 inpatients at any one time while the average occupancy over the last five years has been 40 to 41 patients; if he will provide further funding to reduce the current waiting list in order to continue the comprehensive service which has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11063/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

Limerick East): Cluain Mhuire is a community-based mental health service located in the south east area of Dublin — Dún Laoghaire — Eastern Health Board Community Care Area 2 and part of the Community Care Area 1 — with a catchment population of over 160,000. It was founded in 1971 by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God which operates the service on an agency basis for the Eastern Health Board which is responsible for the provision of psychiatric services in the south east area.

The service at Cluain Mhuire encompasses a comprehensive range of community-based components including day hospitals, day centres, training centres, but-patient clinics, liaison services, together with community-based residential accommodation. The acute component of the service is provided by the purchase of in-patient beds in St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, which is a private hospital.

There has been no reduction in funding to the St. John of God service. The budget for the overall service in the current year is approximately £4.7 million which on a per capita basis compares favourably with other Eastern Health Board psychiatric services.

Discussions have taken place between the St. John of God Order and the Eastern Health Board concerning its budget situation and the matter will be kept under review in the context of service need.