Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 4

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Adolescents.

Tony Gregory

Question:

51 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for services for disadvantaged adolescents at risk; the funding, if any, his Department can provide to ensure the continuation of the badly needed day treatment transitions programme and other services for the 15 to 20 year age group at St. Joseph's Family and Adolescent Centre in St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin 3, which is due to close in November 1995 through lack of funding. [14022/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): St. Vincent's Hospital provides an adolescent psychiatric day service at St. Joseph's Family and Adolescent Centre, Fairview, Dublin 3.

In 1991, St. Joseph's identified a need for a specialised social skills-education programme for vulnerable young teenagers dropping out of the education system. A pilot project was approved from June 1992 funded by the Horizon initiative of the EU Social Fund.

The funding for this pilot project ceased in December 1994 although St. Joseph's has continued to operate the service. However, with effect from 1 October 1995, the Department of Health, through the Eastern Health Board, is providing a grant of £20,000 per annum to enable St. Joseph's to provide additional resources to the programme. Funding will be kept under continuous review in the context of service need.