Vol. 550 No. 2
369 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of additional residential places provided in each of the past three years for persons in the intellectual disability sector; the reason the numbers dropped in 2002 to 100; the number of cases which have been reported as out of home; if the 100 places will go to these emergency cases; the number which will go on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8304/02]
Some 320 new residential places for persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism were provided in 1999, 422 in 2000 and, while the figures for 2001 are being finalised, it would appear that between 395 and 400 new places will have been provided during that year.
The additional revenue funding provided in 2002 for the development of new services is €25 million which will provide for more than 100 new residential places, together with additional day, respite and other support services. I presume the out of home cases referred to by the Deputy relate to crisis admissions to the residential services. In recent years the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority have been asked to put in place mechanisms to assist service providers with the costs associated with such admissions. Details of the numbers of such cases would not routinely be sought by my Department during the year, but would be dealt with in the final returns by the boards at the end of the year. In relation to the question of how the new residential places should be allocated, it is a matter for each health board and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to determine the manner in which the funding available to them is used to meet the needs of the various categories of persons requiring services.
