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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 7

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

229 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons with a mental handicap in the Eastern Health Board area in residential care and day-care; the numbers waiting for each respective service; and the number of respite beds available for each of the years 1987, 1992 and 1997 or the nearest year to these dates for which information is available. [7103/98]

The number of people with a mental handicap in the Eastern Health Board area currently in residential care is 2,622 and there are 4,821 in receipt of day services. The numbers who have been assessed as requiring residential and day care services in the period up to 2001 are as follows: residential care, 414 and day care, 529.

It is not possible to provide accurate information on the number of respite places available in the region for the earlier years requested by the Deputy as, while almost all mental handicap agencies provide this service, the number of actual places available at any given time may vary due to the need to cater for emergency or crisis cases. However, I understand from the Eastern Health Board that over 770 persons with a mental handicap availed of respite care in 1997. Since 1991, around 200 additional respite places have been provided throughout the region. A programme of new building is essential for the delivery of the services, including respite care services, which are required to meet the needs of persons with a mental handicap. I have, therefore, established a £30 million capital programme for mental handicap services to run over four years in tandem with An Assessment of Need for Services to Persons with a Mental Handicap 1997-2001, beginning this year with a capital allocation of £5.25 million. The details of this capital programme are currently being discussed with the health boards and voluntary mental handicap agencies.
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