asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) the estimated number of mentally handicapped children in the State in need of special institutional treatment, and (b) the total number at present in special institutions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Handicapped Children.
8.
It would be extremely difficult to estimate with any accuracy the numbers of mentally handicapped children needing special institutional treatment. It has, however, been estimated that, on the basis of studies carried out elsewhere, there may be about 7,000 mentally handicapped persons of all ages who would require institutional care and training. It is not possible on present information to indicate how many of these would be children.
On 31st December, 1958, the latest date for which figures are available, they were 2,394 mentally handicapped persons being maintained in special institutions. Of this number, 1,750 were under 20 years of age. Arrangements are in train which will add an additional 300 to 360 places to the number at present available.
As the Deputy may be aware, the provision of premises is only one facet of the problem. The onerous and exacting nature of the work calls for a special type of vocation and the right kind of management is also of considerable importance. When, therefore, a group with wide experience of the work elsewhere, vouched for as being suitable by a responsible authority, expressed its willingness to utilise existing available premises to open a home for upwards of 200 children, I welcomed the offer; but it would appear that unexpected difficulties will prevent this happening.
The Minister spoke of additional accommodation being available, as a result of work at present in hand, for 360 additional juveniles. I fully appreciate the difficulty of estimating accurately the total number but can the Minister give any approximate estimate, even based on statistical calculations, of how many that would leave unprovided for?
If the Deputy would subtract 2,700 from 7,000 he would get an approximate idea of the deficiencies which we have still to make up.
5,000?
4,000.
They are not all children?
No. There may be about 1,000 in mental institutions throughout the country of which we have no record but they are included, on the statistical basis, in that 7,000.
But the 4,000 would not consist exclusively of children. That includes mentally handicapped persons of all ages? Probably half or two-thirds of those might be children?
Yes.
I see the difficulty in estimating.