Michael Ring
Question:106 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding which was provided for the care of autistic children and people in the Western Health Board region in the years 1996 and 1997. [15882/97]
Written Answers. - Autism Services.
An allocation of £310,000 (full year cost) was made to the Western Health Board in 1997 for the development of services specifically for persons with autism. These developments include:
Six residential-day places at Claregalway;
One day place at a Child Education & Development Centre (CEDC), Galway;
Six day places at Pope John Paul II Centre in Ballybane.
In 1996 the Western Health Board received additional funding of £130,000 for specific services for persons with autism.
The majority of persons with autism avail of the generic mental handicap services which have been substantially enhanced in recent years. In addition to the funding listed above, additional funding of £850,000 was provided for the development of services to persons with a mental handicap, including autism, in the Western Health Board region. This provided 31 new day places and 45 new residential/respite places.
Funding of £262,000 was allocated in 1996 which provided additional respite care services for as many as possible of the 114 adults and 66 children with a mental handicap, including autism, on the board's priority residential placement list.