Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 1

Written Answers - Mental Handicap Services.

John Bruton

Question:

225 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 871 of 27 January 1999, he will give details of his Department's assistance programme in 1999 to St. Raphael's Training Centre, Celbridge, County Kildare; if sufficient funds will be allocated to ensure that the centre can provide sufficient places for those who want to avail of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3552/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

St. Raphael's Training Centre in Celbridge is operated by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God which is one of a number of major voluntary service providers in the field of mental handicap. My Department's allocation to the order's services in the eastern region in 1999 is £20.977 million. This includes additional funding of £250,000, first provided in 1998, specifically for service issues related to the changing profile of existing clients in St. Raphael's, Celbridge.

This year I was pleased to be in a position to provide additional funding of £12 million, with a full year cost of £18 million in 2000, for the further development of new services in line with the needs identified in the "Assessment of Need for Services to Persons with a Mental Handicap – 1997-2001". Of this additional funding, £3.635 million has been allocated to the Eastern Health Board, with a full year cost of £4.61 million in 2000. Details of the precise services to be put in place in the eastern region from this additional funding and the individuals who will benefit from these services are agreed by the Central Mental Handicap Planning Committee, which includes representation from the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God.

As a result of this process, I understand that the St. John of God Order is to receive the following for the development of new services: 4 respite places, £100,000; 6 residential places, £180,000; 13 day places, £130,000.