Vol. 558 No. 4
335 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications for funding his Department has received from the 11 health boards in regard to the provision of residential or respite care for children or teenagers with mental disturbance disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24842/02]
I assume the Deputy is referring to children and young adults with an intellectual disability or autism who present with behavioural difficulties. My Department has had ongoing discussions with all health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority in relation to regional strategies to respond to the needs of children and adults who fall within this category over the last number of years.
In addition to developing a significant number of additional residential, respite and day places over the last number of years, specific funding amounting to €11.42 million has also been allocated to the various health boards and to the Eastern Regional Health Authority in relation to the development, on an ongoing basis and in agreement with my Department, of specialist support services for adults and children who, because of their behavioural difficulties, require a more intensive level of support. This funding has been used to provide specific high support residential and respite places, multi-disciplinary and other therapeutic support services.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot, at this stage, comment on specific funding for any element of the health services in 2003 prior to the conclusion of the annual budget discussions.
336 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children his Department's decision on a recent decision by a private company caring for children for the SWAHB to bring criminal charges against children who used drugs while in the company's care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24843/02]
The matter referred to by the Deputy is the operational responsibility of the South-Western Area Health Board under the Child Care Act, 1991. The board has indicated that it would require further information on the matter raised to enable it to provide a reply. If the Deputy has further information on this perhaps he could communicate it directly to me or to the regional chief executive, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Mill Lane, Palmerstown, Dublin 20.
338 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children in the care of the SWAHB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24845/02]
The last available figures are from the interim minimum dataset 2000 and there were 706 children in care of the South-Western Area Health Board.
