Vol. 472 No. 3
80 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health, in the context of correspondence submitted to Deputy Fitzgerald by friends and relatives of mentally handicapped persons, if he will agree to provide additional resources to take account of the fact that 2,950 mentally handicapped people currently have no service, 1,500 of these have no day service and 1,450 are waiting for residential service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23287/96]
Additional funding of £56.8 million was invested in the services for persons with a mental handicap in the period 1990-6 which has enabled health boards and voluntary organisations to put in place over 1,000 additional residential places and 2,300 day care places.
While I am satisfied that the annual injection of funds into services to persons with a mental handicap over the past number of years has made a substantial impact, I am aware that more needs to be done if the needs of those awaiting services are to be met. The Government is committed to the continued development of the services, as resources become available. This commitment is outlined in both "A Government of Renewal" and the health strategy "Shaping a Healthier Future".
The national intellectual disability database is now providing my Department, the health boards and the voluntary mental handicap agencies with information on both the current and future needs of persons with a mental handicap over a five year period.
I would hope to continue the development of further services for persons with a mental handicap based on the needs indentified by the data base. My priority is to ensure that provision can be made to meet the needs of those who are currently without a service.
