Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 4

Written Answers. - Residential Accommodation for Disabled.

Ivor Callely

Question:

93 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the number of people with a disability awaiting residential accommodation in each health board; if he will give a breakdown of the identified needs and funding required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15462/95]

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

Information provided to my Department by the health boards earlier this year indicates that there were 1,453 persons with a mental handicap awaiting residential accommodation as follows:

Health Board Area	Waiting List
Eastern	480
Midland	57
Mid-West	196
North-East	90
North-West	80
South-East	136
Southern	172
West	242
Total	1,453

The above figures do not take account of the additional 243 residential places provided in 1995. This data reflects the information which is now available to the health boards from the national mental handicap database. Initial information from the database is currently being submitted to my Department where the validation process will be continued in conjunction with the health boards. It is hoped to have this process completed towards the end of the year. We will then be in a position to differentiate more accurately between current and future needs, both of which are reflected in the information given to the Deputy. This will enable funding requirements to be estimated more accurately.

In regard to people with a physical or sensory disability detailed information on waiting lists for residential care is not routinely collected by my Department. However, in the context of the review group report on physical and sensory disability this information is being collected in order to ascertain current and future residential care needs. The review group is due to report by the end of this year and one of its recommendations will be the establishment of a comprehensive database to facilitate service planning.