I have notice from Senator Patrick Kennedy that he wishes to raise a matter on the adjournment.
Adjournment Matter. - Limerick School for Physically Handicapped.
Acting Chairman
I am very glad to have the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment and to call upon the Minister for Health, and the Minister for Education, who are jointly responsible in this area, to give the green light to proceed immediately with the relocation and development of St. Gabriel's school and clinic for the physically handicapped on a site which has been acquired for this development adjoining St. Paul's school in Dooradoyle in Limerick.
The proposed development is part of the implementation of an overall plan for the provision of services for the physically handicapped in the Mid-Western Health Board area. The St. Gabriel school and clinic for the physically handicapped evolved from a day centre for handicapped children set up by a very helpful voluntary group. At the outset, it catered for both mentally and physically handicapped children. As the services for the mentally handicapped developed, this centre catered for the physically handicapped only. It then developed as a school for the physically handicapped and is funded by the Department of Education.
The existing school provides educational facilities for approximately 35 pupils from Limerick city and from the area within 15 to 20 miles of Limerick city. I would like to pay tribute to all the voluntary people who have been associated with this school and clinic down through the years, especially to those people who pioneered this development.
The Mid-Western Health Board, of course, contribute to the expenses of the centre and £30,500 was paid by way of grant in 1989. This grant contributes to the funding of two physiotherapists, one part-time occupational therapist and two nursing aides. The centre also employes the services of a part-time medical officer.
The existing services, both educational and health, are being provided, however, in accommodation at St. Joseph's Street in Limerick. The accommodation is very limited, of poor standard and is in urgent need of replacement. It includes three classrooms and a fair sized physiotherapy department. It has, however, no play areas and no gymnasium, canteen and other facilities for children as alternatives to the classroom accommodation.
The existing accommodation is totally inadequate and replacement accommodation is therefore, urgently required. In the late 1970s the management committee of the centre proposed alternative accommodation to consist of three classrooms and teachers' accommodation to be funded by the Department of Education and appropriate clinic space, to comprise speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, treatment rooms and special toilets, to be funded by the Department of Health.
A site for the proposed development was acquired, adjoining St. Paul's school in Dooradoyle in Limerick. In 1986 a project group, representive of the management committee, the Mid-Western Health Board and the Department of Health prepared a brief for the clinic accommodation as proposed. The proposed clinic would provide services for children suffering from many conditions, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis and other physical handicaps. The total of these conditions on the board's register of children between two and 16 years of age is as follows: in the Limerick area, 85, in Clare 79, and Tipperary North Riding 62, making a total of 226.
Arising from that joint planning exercise for the proposal, it has been agreed that the school and the attached clinic facilities would be a focal point for the provision of a physical medical service for the physically handicapped children in the area of the Mid-Western Health Board, I am informed by the programme manager for the Mid-Western Health Board, Mr. Martin Duffy, who has done so much work in this area, that if the go ahead was given for the provision of this regional facility it would be on a par with the Central Remedial Clinic. It would provide a comprehensive range of services for children attending the school and for children attending as outpatients. The proposed complex will also be available for the full range of physical medical services for adults in the community. In keeping with the concept of a client-based health service, the complex will function in harmony and in consultation with the different interest groups, the various consultants, pediatrics and orthopaedics, the Central Remedial Clinic and the other health agencies. The implementation of this proposal I believe is an essential development in the provision of services for the physically handicapped in particular.
The existing accommodation is very limited and I believe is totally inadequate and because of these constraints it cannot function to its full potential. This development proposal can be seen as part of the implementation of an overall plan for the provision of services for the physically handicapped in the area of the Mid-Western Health Board. I therefore, request that the Government, through the Minister for Education and indeed the Minister for Health, in the interests of all concerned, would give the go-ahead and the green light for this proposed development.
It is interesting to recall here that speaking on 1 November 1990 at the opening by the President of Ireland of the St. Paul's Centre for severly physically disabled adults Dr. Tom Gregg, Chairman of Cerebral Palsy (Ireland) Limited stated: "At present the needs of the physically handicapped child and their families are not adequately met in Ireland." There is in my mind no doubt that there are not as yet adequate facilities available in Ireland for the treatment of severely physically handicapped children, the support of their families and to provide them with a useful and a worthwhile adult life. This belief is evidenced by the many families who endeavour to finance therapy in Peto in Hungary at much individual cost to themselves. The same financial opportunity in this country would provide a higher standard of service for the many hundreds of children who require this help throughout Ireland.
I would like to join with the other speakers in complimenting the Minister for her decision to launch the Green Paper and thereafter the White Paper on Education. I make a very special plea for the disadvantaged children throughout the country. I hope the Minister for Education will give us some solace this evening and will perhaps be able if not tonight then in the immediate future, to indicate, even if belatedly, the green light to proceed with this important development. I thank the Minister for remaining in the House to reply.
I thank Senator Kennedy for raising the matter on the Adjournment, When I saw it I was very keen to come to the House and reply because I have been in that school twice already as the Senator knows. I was very taken by the conduct of the school, how the principal and the assistants cope with the children with such huge disadvantages and yet how they brought such joy and commitment to their work. Even though it is in very difficult circumstances, and indeed in unsuitable circumstances, they give their all to caring for the children.
The Senator has gone through much of what is in my brief such as the number of children, teachers, etc. I have approved the provision of a new building as a permanent home. It will adjoin the existing St. Paul's national school at Dooradoyle. Then the funding for the clinic will come from the Department of Health. The fact that that is being done is novel and work was required to get that accepted locally.
A measure of planning was necessary to have it adjoining the campus of an existing primary school. The whole project was novel and it will be very good for the children from both schools to see each other. There will be three new classrooms, a general purposes area and a physiotheraphy room, house crafts and crafts room, office, kitchen, toilets, storage areas and staff rooms. I agree with the Senator nobody should grudge that kind of good accommodation for pupils who are handicapped because they need it more than anybody else. The clinic will have facilities for occupational and speech therapy, consulting room and examination room and administration facilities.
The fullest consultations on the matter have taken place with the various local interests. I understand these local interests have requested some alterations to the plan which are being considered now by the professional team and a decision relating to the changes which they sought will be conveyed to the local interests as early as possible. I am assured that the Department of Health are satisfied with their proposals with regard to the clinic and that it will play a central role in the provision of services in the Limerick catchment area which extends into County Clare.
The brief of the project indicates that the clinic will provide services on an outpatient basis for children who require physiotherapy or occupational therapy but who do not go to school. That is a great advance. Ultimately, it is envisaged that this element of the service may develop to cater for those outside the age group. This project is regarded by my Department and the Department of Health as being very important for the locality. It is the intention to proceed with it as a matter of urgency in consultation with all of the interested parties and to complete the remaining stages of the architectural planning. I can tell Senator Kennedy and all of the other national representatives in this House and in the Dáil who have raised the matter that I have a personal interest in the progress of this project and I intend to see it through.
The Seanad adjourned at 8.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 29 November 1990.