asked the Minister for Health if he will state the total number of inmates in county homes on the 31st March, 1950, and on the most recent dates for which figures are available under the headings (1) chronic sick, (2) aged (over 65) other than chronic sick, (3) other adults (under 65, including mothers and casuals), (4) mental defectives, (5) blind persons, (6) deaf mutes, (7) casuals, (8) unmarried mothers and (9) children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Home Inmates.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the table:—
NUMBER of Inmates in County Homes on 31st March, 1950
|
Chronic Sick |
3,210 |
|
Aged (over 65) other than chronic sick |
1,998 |
|
Other Adults (under 65 and excluding mothers and casuals) |
1,136 |
|
Mental Defectives |
595 |
|
Blind |
187 |
|
Deaf Mutes |
41 |
|
Casuals |
139 |
|
Unmarried Mothers |
450 |
|
Children |
829 |
|
TOTAL |
8,585 |
These particulars which are contained in the White Paper entitled "Reconstruction and Improvement of County Homes" published in 1951 (Presentation No. 756) were obtained specially for the purposes of the report of an inter-departmental committee appointed to examine the question of the improvement and replacement of county homes. Particulars of occupants of county homes are not available in the same form in respect of any subsequent date, but the following are the numbers of persons resident in county homes on 22nd February, 1958 (unmarried mothers and children as on 30th September, 1957) classified in the manner in which the information is available:—
|
Chronic Sick |
3,080 |
|
Aged, and Infirm, other than Chronic sick or Mentally Infirm |
4,273 |
|
Mentally Infirm and Defective |
433 |
|
Unmarried Mothers |
103 |
|
Children |
259 |
|
Others (including Able-bodied, Blind, Deaf Mutes and Casuals) |
416 |
|
TOTAL |
8,564 |
Included under the heading "aged and infirm, other than chronic sick or mentally defective" are 404 persons accommodated in special homes for old people established in Dublin during the past four years in pursuance of a programme for the transfer to more suitable accommodation of old people formerly accommodated in St. Kevin's Hospitals. Under the same programme separate accommodation has been provided for "casuals" who were also formerly accommodated in St. Kevin's Hospitals.
The great majority of the persons described as "mentally infirm and defective" are senile persons or mental defectives above the age for which accommodation in special institutions for mental defectives would be suitable.
It will be noted that the number of unmarried mothers in county homes is now less than a quarter of the number in 1950 and that the number of children is only about 30 per cent. of the number in 1950. This is in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper. Efforts to reduce these numbers still further are continuing. A considerable number of the children were only temporarily accommodated in county homes pending boarding out or transfer to more suitable institutions.