Brian Lenihan
Question:59 Mr. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to make additional funds available to ensure there is an adequate number of permanent residential places for the mentally handicapped. [13719/96]
Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.
Brian Lenihan
Question:60 Mr. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health when consideration of the five year statement of needs for the mentally handicapped will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13720/96]
Brian Lenihan
Question:61 Mr. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health the completion date for the validation process initiated by him in relation to the residential care waiting list of persons with a handicap. [13721/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 to 61, inclusive, together.
As part of an ongoing development programme, additional funding of £12 million has been made available in 1996 for the continued development of services to persons with a mental handicap.
A sum of £3 million of the £6 million revenue funding is being used to meet the 1996 cost of the additional services which were put in place in 1995.
The remaining £3 million is being used to provide additional services in 1996 including: 265 additional day care places, around 70 additional residentialrespite places and further extension of the home support services.
Of the £6 million capital funding which is being made available, £2 million is being used to support the general service developments associated with the additional revenue funding and £2 million to develop training facilities for persons with mental handicap as part of the 1994-99 European Regional Development Fund Programme.
A further £2 million capital funding is being made available to the Eastern Health Board in respect of the provision of additional residential facilities for persons with a mental handicap. This funding is being made available over a two-year period. A sum of £1 million is being made available in 1996 with a further £1 million at the beginning of 1997.
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 was invested in the development of the services in the period 1990 to 1995 which has enabled the health boards to put in place over 1,000 additional residential places and 2,100 day care places.
I am satisfied that this additional funding has made a significant impact on the number of persons with a mental handicap awaiting services. However, I am aware that more needs to be done. The Government's commitment to the continued development of the services, as resources become available, is reflected in my decision, with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Noonan, to prepare a five-year development plan to meet the needs identified by the new national mental handicap database. I expect this plan to be ready later this year.
It is my intention that the official launch of the national mental handicap database will coincide with the announcement of the five year development plan later this year. I will forward to the Deputy a copy of a preliminary report from the database which was published recently. This is the first public release of data in relation to the database.