Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 5

Written Answers. - Medical Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

16 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position in regard to the number of day respite and residential care places created in respect of people with physical or sensory disabilities as defined by the voluntary or care organisations; the number of places now available; the plans, if any, he has to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14072/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The latest information available in my Department regarding the number of residential places and respite places in each health board area is given in the following table.

Regional co-ordinating committees, for services in the physical and sensory disability sector, have been put in place in each of the health boards. These committees, which comprise representatives of the voluntary and statutory agencies and people with disabilities themselves, function in a consultative and advisory capacity to the chief executive officers of the boards in identifying and prioritising service developments and the allocation of funding available for this purpose. The allocation of additional resources to respite and long-term residential care will be considered by health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees.

This year £3 million, rising to £6 million full year cost in 2000, has been allocated for the development of services and £4 million for capital projects. Respite and residential care services are priority areas for development.

Health Board	Residential Places	Respite Places
Eastern	338	29
Midland	28 (places in facilities for the elderly)	11 (6 of which are in facilities for the elderly)
Mid-Western	28	2
North-Eastern	2 at present and 9 beds coming on stream before end of year.	10
North-Western	39	7
South-Eastern	19	1
Southern	82	73
Western	63	62(Including the 60 respite places at the I.W.A. national respite centre at Cúisle, Co. Roscommon.