Vol. 529 No. 1
549 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he has taken to improve the position of the mentally handicapped particularly in relation to residential places and respite breaks; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1129/01]
My Department is providing further additional revenue funding of £35 million in respect of services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism with £28 million being provided in 2001 and the balance coming on stream in January 2002.
The additional revenue funding of £35 million will provide;
i)450 new residential places;
ii)110 new respite places, including 40 places for persons who require a more intensive and specialist placement;
iii)600 new day places;
iv)health related support services for children with an intellectual disability and those with autism;
v)the continuation of the programme to transfer persons with an intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements;
and the further enhancement of specialist and other support services.
This funding is in addition to the £10.010 million already allocated to the services in 2001 to meet the full year costs of the 2000 developments, £7 million and identified needs in existing services, £3.01 million. This brings the total additional revenue funding provided in 2001 for the services to £38.01 million, increasing to £45.01 million with effect from January 2002. Capital funding of £45 million is also being provided in 2001 to support the ongoing development of the services. In all, therefore, there will be a total additional investment of £83.01 million, increasing to £90.01 million in 2002 in these services.
