Dan Boyle
Question:109 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the policy his Department has to forbid the placing of autistic persons into psychiatric hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5091/03]
Written Answers - Autism Services.
It has been the policy of my Department for some 15 years that persons with an intellectual disability or autism should not be admitted to psychiatric hospitals unless they have an underlying psychiatric disorder which cannot be appropriately treated elsewhere. In the case of St. Ita's Hospital, persons with an intellectual disability or autism are admitted to St. Joseph's intellectual disability service which, while it is based on the St. Ita's campus, is a specific and dedicated intellectual disability service.
Between 1999 and 2002 additional revenue funding of €10.476 million and €27.4 million capital funding allocated to the programme to provide more appropriate care settings for the following people: persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism accommodated in psychiatric hospitals; those accommodated in de-designated units which were formerly designated as part of the psychiatric services; and others who moved some years ago from psychiatric hospitals to alternative accommodation which is now unsuitable for their needs.
The number of persons with an intellectual disability or autism accommodated in psychiatric hospitals in October 2002 was 452 compared to 490 in April 2002. The figure in 1996 was 970.
Question No. 110 answered with Question No. 108.