Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 3

Written Answers. - Psychiatric Services.

Bernard Allen

Question:

184 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of acute psychiatric beds currently available in each of the health board areas; and the number of acute psychiatric beds in each of the health board areas in each of the years 1980, 1985 and 1990. [17578/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Health Board	Number of Acute Psychiatric Beds
1980	1985	1990	1997
Eastern	420 (approx)*	440 (approx)*	533	495
Midland	165	170	105	108
Mid-Western	170	157	82	82
North Eastern	95	95	95	99
North Western	103	101	101	101
South Eastern	251	251	218	196**
Southern	272	272	219	220
Western	213	200	200	160

*Up to 1985, acute beds in St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman were provided on a needs-led basis. Consequently, it is not possible to indicate the exact number of acute beds provided in 1980 and 1985. However, the total number of beds in the hospital in those years was 990 (1980) and 870 (1985).

**Due to an error in the information supplied in relation to the South-Eastern Health Board in response to a question by the Deputy on 14 October 1997, the number of acute psychiatric beds provided in that health board area in 1997 was incorrectly stated in that reply.

I will write to the Deputy separately on this issue.