Máirín Quill
Question:52 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he proposes to take in 1996 to tackle the waiting list of persons with a mental handicap awaiting residential places. [1517/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Waiting List.
Additional funding of £10 million has been made available in 1996 for services to persons with a mental handicap. This includes £6 million in revenue funding of which £3 million is being provided to meet the 1996 cost of additional services which were put in place in 1995 which included over 240 residential-respite places. The remaining £3 million in revenue funding provided in 1996 will facilitate the provision of an additional 66 residential-respite places and 265 day care places. In addition, £4 million in capital funding is being provided of which £2 million will be used to support general service developments and £2 million to develop and improve the quality of training facilities under the ERDF assisted programme.
As the Deputy is aware, substantial additional funding has been made available in recent years for the development of services to persons with a mental handicap. Additional funding of £44.58 million invested in the services in the period 1990 to 1995 has enabled health boards to put in place over 1,000 additional residential places and 2,100 day care places. I am satisfied that this additional annual funding has made a significant impact on the number of persons with a mental handicap awaiting residential care. However, I am aware that more needs to be done if we are to meet the needs of those awaiting services. The Government is committed under both the health strategy document Shaping a Healthier Future and A Government of Renewal to the continued development of the service as resources become available. It is also my intention, on completion of the validation process in respect of the national mental handicap database later this year, to initiate a review of need.