Dan Neville
Question:44 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people in each health board area with (i) mental disabilities and (ii) physical and sensory disabilities. [22904/99]
Written Answers. - Disability Statistics.
Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen): I am assuming that, in relation to mental disability, the Deputy is referring to persons with an intellectual disability. Data in respect of 1998, including the information requested by the Deputy, will shortly be available and I have arranged for it to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. In the meantime I have outlined the latest published data which relates to 1996.
|
Health Board |
|
|
Eastern |
8,730 |
|
Midland |
1,658 |
|
Mid-Western |
2,568 |
|
North-Eastern |
2,022 |
|
North-Western |
1,706 |
|
South-Eastern |
3,083 |
|
Southern |
3,844 |
|
Western |
3,083 |
|
Total |
26,694 |
There are no statistics available on the numbers of people with physical and sensory disabilities. However, based on the average incidence in other countries, it has been variously estimated that the numbers of people in Ireland with these disabilities could be between 100,000 and 200,000.
The report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, published in December, 1996, highlighted the lack of reliable information on the numbers of people with physical and sensory disabilities and recommended the establishment of a database of the service needs of this group. Following successful pilot projects in three health board areas and in line with the recommendations of Towards an Independent Future, a National Database Development Committee was established and hopes to complete its work by the end of this year. This will enable steps to be taken next year to put the database in place.