Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Sep 1996

Vol. 469 No. 1

Written Answers. - Services for Disabled Children.

Mary Wallace

Question:

270 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health his views on the need for flexibility in relation to allocating children with disabilities to services by means of their residence in a catchment area and, in particular, the need to allow for children staying with their friends when they move from different levels of service and from schools to ongoing places. [16911/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): As far as possible children should receive services in their local neighbourhoods. This is not always possible in the case of specialist services or in some rural areas of low population density. However, planning of the development of services for children with a disability is based on the principle that services should be integrated into the local community.