Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Richard Bruton

Question:

370 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the report of the inspector of mental hospitals concerning the support services for 273 children with an intellectual disability which indicates that no occupational therapists, physiotherapists or psychiatric social therapists are employed in the service; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that three and a half years have passed since planning for a new complex commenced and still no planning permission has been submitted; and if he will arrange for an official in his Department to be appointed to drive forward provision for these children within a selected timeframe. [26145/01]

Pat Carey

Question:

376 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children when construction will begin on the facility for 273 persons (details supplied) with an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26194/01]

Nora Owen

Question:

387 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to provide facilities for 273 people with intellectual disabilities resident in St. Ita's, Portrane; the reason a delay in providing these facilities has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 370, 376 and 387 together.

I have been informed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority that in relation to the provision of multidisciplinary support services for the St. Joseph's intellectual disability services, Portrane, additional funding was allocated from the 2001 development funds to enhance the level of speech and language, physiotherapy and social work services available to the services. However, St. Joseph's services are experiencing ongoing difficulties in the recruitment of allied health professionals. This is due primarily to the general shortage of available staff in these grades nationally.

The process of transferring 30 residents to the new facilities in Clonmethan is ongoing. The Northern Area Health Board expects to submit an application for planning shortly in respect of the new residential and day facilities on the St. Ita's campus for a further 60 persons. It was essential that an overall control plan was developed for the campus as a whole before decisions could be taken on the siting of the new facilities for the St. Joseph's services. While detailed work was ongoing in relation to the brief for the project, definitive plans and costings for the facilities could not be completed until this process had been finalised.

A site has been sourced in Lusk for the development of a complex similar to Clonmethan which would accommodate a further 30 residents from the St. Joseph's services. As part of the national development plan proposals, the provision of additional accommodation for a further 30 residents on the grounds of St Brendan's Hospital is also planned. In addition, the authority has informed me that over £1 million in capital funding was invested in existing facilities in St. Joseph's intellectual disability services between 2000 and 2001 to improve infrastructure, services and facilities for residents.

My Department is working closely with the authority and the Northern Area Health Board on developments for St. Joseph's services with a view to moving these developments forward as quickly as possible.