I thank you, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
It is often said the hallmark of a civilised society is the manner in which it treats its weakest and most vulnerable sections. When we examine the way in which those with a mental handicap and their families have been treated in this country, we certainly cannot claim any exceptional degree of civilisation. It is difficult to think of a group of people more deserving of support from society than those with a mental handicap. They are an exceptional group of people, many of whom go on to considerable achievement despite their handicap, but there are those who will always be dependent on others to provide for their needs.
Anybody who knows anything about this area will be overwhelmed by the love and care lavished on these people by their families and the trojan work done by voluntary organisations active on their behalf. What causes most anger and frustration to those voluntarily involved in the care of the handicapped, whether families or groups, is that the more work they do and the harder they try, the more content the State seems to be to wash its hands of its obligations and to load even more work and responsibility on to families and the voluntary sector. This is a political issue, but it should not be a party political one. In the aftermath of the general election, I specifically suggested that it could be taken out of the party political arena by all parties agreeing on a programme of funding to meet the needs identified by health boards and in the national intellectual disability database. This programme would then be honoured, regardless of the party or parties in power.
Unfortunately, there was no response to my offer and inevitably voluntary organisations like the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped are left with no alternative but to lobby, press and harry politicians. The lobbying has increased, given the deep disappointment felt by that association and others at the allocation of just £7 million in the budget for the needs of those with mental handicap.
There are 2,400 people with a mental handicap on waiting lists and there are 1,000 people with a mental handicap residing in appalling conditions in psychiatric hospitals who should not be there. People with a mental handicap have no statutory right to a service and they and their families have to depend on the benevolence of the State. Those families who have a service have no guarantee that it will be permanent and their service can be discontinued at any stage.
I recently attended a public meeting in Limerick of parents of people with a mental handicap. In the past we referred to children with a mental handicap, but many of them are now in their fifties and sixties with ageing parents who are concerned about what will happen to their children when they pass on. A member of the executive of NAMHI told us that a single 40 year old woman who was caring for her 50 year old sister was recently hospitalised because of the pressure of the work she was doing. While she was in hospital her sister was taken into care but when she was discharged from hospital her sister was also discharged. She could not get any respite care until a member of the executive of NAMHI intervened with the officials of the Mid-Western Health Board who managed to find a place for her. In the short term that woman is not in a position to continue to care for her sister on a 24 hour basis every day of the year. It is literally killing her. That type of experience can be multiplied by thousands
To deal with all of these matters will require legislative and spending measures over a number of years, but to deal with the most pressing needs NAMHI asks that the allocation of £7 million for 1998 announced in the budget should be increased to £25 million. This is a modest amount, particularly at a time when the Exchequer is literally awash with money. A sum of £25 million represents less than half of one per cent of the money the State will take in income tax alone during 1998.
I ask the Minister of State to convey to the Minister, Deputy Cowen, the urgent need to introduce a Supplementary Estimate to provide the money that is necessary. It is not as if it is not available. The Minister of State will have the support of every Member of the House if he takes that action.
