Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.

Mary Wallace

Question:

152 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of new residential places provided for those with a mental handicap in each of the years 1994 to 1996; the reason there was such a drop in new places provided in 1996 on a national basis; the reason there were no new places provided in area six of the Eastern Health Board in 1996 in spite of the £10 million provided in the 1996 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24639/96]

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

Information in relation to the number of new residential/respite places provided in the period 1994-6 is as follows:

Year	Additional Residential/Respite Places
1994	282
1995	243
1996	70

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. The number of places provided in any year is related to the level of funding available.

In relation to the Eastern Health Board area additional revenue funding of £1.4 million was made available to the Eastern Health Board in 1996 which has enabled it to put in place 21 new residential/respite places, 112 new day care places and to further enhance the level of home support services available in the region. Capital funding of £0.91 million was made available to the eastern region to support the additional services which were put in place this year. In addition to this capital funding, £2 million is being made available to the board over a two year period to provide additional residential facilities on the southside of the city.

The provision of services to persons with a mental handicap in the different community care areas of the eastern region is a matter in the first instance for the Eastern Health Board. The allocation of the additional revenue for new services within the health board area is agreed by the regional mental handicap co-ordinating committee, which is representative of the health board, the voluntary service providers and parents and families of persons with a mental handicap, on the basis of priority need.