Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

160 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the recently compiled database of persons with a mental handicap who require services; if he will give a commitment to allocate funding in proportion to the percentage of the waiting lists in each of the health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8336/97]

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

I hope to make arrangements in the near future for the publication of an assessment of the need for services for persons with a mental handicap as identified by the database.

I recently approved the allocation to the health boards of £7.5 million for the provision of 160 additional residential-respite and 350 day care places as follows:

Health Board	Funding
	(£m)
Eastern	2.475
Midland	0.55
Mid-Western	0.65
North-Eastern	0.65
North-Western	0.55
South-Eastern	0.9
Southern	0.875
Western	0.85
Total	7.5

Funding is also being allocated for other services to persons with a mental handicap, including services for persons with autism and the continuation of the ongoing programme to transfer persons with a mental handicap from inappropriate placements.