Vol. 475 No. 1
45 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health if he intends to set up a database development committee for the service requirements of persons with physical and sensory disabilities, including the needs of children born with birth defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4326/97]
Limerick East): The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future refers to the need to identify service user needs on a regional and national basis in a consistent manner for planning purposes. It recommends the development of a national database on the service requirements of persons with physical and sensory disabilities which would include the needs of children with birth defects.
The review group recommended that a database development committee be established to prepare detailed proposals for the development of the database. It is my intention to establish this committee later in the year when the first report from a pilot physical and sensory disability database project currently being initiated in three health boards is available.
