Written Answers. - Intellectually Disabled Persons.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:
142
Ms Fitzgerald
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of people with an intellectual disability who are inappropriately placed in psychiatric hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20287/01]
From information recently received from the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards, 610 persons with an intellectual disability are currently accommodated in psychiatric hospitals. Details of the breakdown between the various boards and the authority are set out in the following table:
|
Health Board/Authority
|
Number ofPersons
|
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority
|
279
|
|
Midland
|
26
|
|
Mid-Western
|
62
|
|
North-Eastern
|
19
|
|
North-Western
|
15
|
|
South-Eastern
|
116
|
|
Southern
|
33
|
|
Western
|
60
|
|
Total
|
610
|
Details of the plans which the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards have for this population group are as follows:
Eastern Regional Health Authority – 279 persons
Some 263 persons with an intellectual disability are currently accommodated in St. Joseph's Intellectual Disability Service on the St. Ita's campus. St. Joseph's Intellectual Disability Service provides residential care in dedicated accommodation on the campus and is separate from the mental health service.
As at the end of June, 12 residents had moved to purpose built accommodation in Oldtown, County Meath with a further 18 due to move over the coming months. Planning is at an advanced stage for similar bungalow complexes on the hospital campus to accommodate a further 60 residents. The development plans for the Northern Area Health Board for the next five years provide for the transfer of the remaining residents in St. Joseph's services to more appropriate accommodation, which will include both refurbished and purpose built accommodation.
Two of the remaining 16 persons are appropriately placed within the mental health services and the needs of the 14 others will be reviewed as part of the ongoing development of the services.
Midland Health Board – 26 persons
A project team has been established to plan and implement a programme to provide alternative placements for those accommodated in St. Fintan's and St. Loman's, in addition to the de-designated units in St. Peter's, Castlepollard, Alvernia Centre and Lough Sheever. It also wishes to enhance the overall level of services available to these centres. Four properties have been purchased to date. A project manager is being appointed to oversee the implementation of this programme.
Mid-Western Health Board – 62 persons
As at the end of June, 23 residents have been transferred from St. Joseph's Hospital, Limerick to the Daughters of Charity service, Lisnagry, with a further 13 residents due to move this month. A new unit has been built for 25 persons accommodated in Our Lady's, Ennis. Plans are currently being prepared for the remaining 24 persons in St. Joseph's, Limerick.
North-Eastern Health Board – 19 persons
The board is in the process of negotiating with St. John of Gods the relocating of the small number of persons remaining in St. Brigid's Hospital, Ardee and it expects the move to take place by the end of September or the beginning of October. Six persons will transfer to a community group home in July. Discussions are taking place with St. Mary's, Drumcar concerning alternative placements for a further four persons.
North-Western Health Board – 15 persons
The remaining 15 persons resident in St. Conal's Hospital did not want to move when others were given alternative accommodation some years ago. All are now elderly and will be moved later this year to appropriate placements within the geriatric services.
South-Eastern Health Board – 116 persons
21 persons will be moving from St. Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny to new purpose built accommodation later this year. A similar facility for a further 21 persons from Kelvin Grove, Carlow is at an advanced stage of planning. A premises to accommodate eight persons from St. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy has been identified and discussions are taking place with the board concerning plans for the remaining clients in this hospital. Funding has also been provided for alternative day facilities for persons accommodated in St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel.
Southern Health Board – 33 persons
29 of the 45 persons with an intellectual disability who were accommodated in St. Finan's Hospital, Killarney have moved to new purpose built facilities. It was intended that the remaining 16 persons would transfer to community based services with Kerry Parents and Friends Association. It now appears that only six persons will move to the community, with the remaining persons requiring a psychogeriatric service. Funding has been allocated to enable this process to commence. The majority of the remaining 17 persons currently accommodated within the other psychiatric facilities within the board's services require a psychogeriatric service.
Western Health Board – 60 persons
28 persons will be transferred from St. Brigid's, Ballinasloe this year to community based facilities and to a purpose built facility for 12 persons. Between ten to 12 persons from St. Mary's Hospital will be transferred to Áras Attracta, Swinford. Discussions will take place over the coming months with the board in respect of their plans for the remaining 20 persons.
As the Deputy will appreciate, much progress has been made in recent years in meeting the needs of this population group. I assure her that this Government is committed to an ongoing programme of investment in this area.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:
143
Ms Fitzgerald
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of residential places created for persons with an intellectual disability since 1999; the amount allocated for this in each of the years from 1999 to date in 2001; the number outstanding; the amount of money remaining for this allocation; and the position regarding funding, places created and outstanding needs.
[20288/01]
Between 1999 and 2000 additional funding amounting to £23 million was allocated for the development of additional residential services for persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism. In 2001 a further £15.75 million has been allocated to further enhance the level of residential services available around the country. Details of the number of places and funding in the period in question are as follows:
|
Year
|
Number of Places
|
£ million
|
|
1999
|
320
|
8
|
|
2000
|
442
|
15
|
|
2001
|
400*
|
15.75
|
*As was the case in previous years, the actual number of places made available in 2001 will be confirmed towards the end of the year when account can be taken of emergency placements made during the year.
It should be noted that, in addition to the provision of new residential places, there has also been a significant level of enhanced service provision for persons who were already in receipt of some level of residential care. This would include, for example, extending five day placements to seven days.
In April 1999 information from the National Intellectual Disability Database indicated that, in the period 2000 to 2004, 1,677 new residential places were required to meet the identified needs for this service. My Department is reviewing the position in relation to the implementation of the overall development programme for these ser vices on an ongoing basis with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. Initial information from the National Intellectual Disability Database in relation to the level of service provision and identified need as of 30 May, which will reflect the impact of the 2000 development programme, will also be available in the early autumn. This information will assist my Department in this matter.
The national monitoring committee consists of representatives of my Department, the Health Research Board, the chief executives of the health boards, the Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Mental Handicap, the National Parents and Siblings Alliance and the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland. It is also involved in the monitoring of this programme.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this stage give specific commitments in relation to levels of expenditure in 2002 for any particular service area as these matters will be decided as part of the discussions on the Estimates and budget for that year between my Department and the Department of Finance. I assure her that this Government will fulfil the commitment it gave in relation to meeting the needs of this population group when it initiated the current development programme.
