asked the Minister for Health the number of mentally and physically handicapped children at present on waiting lists for institutional treatment in County Mayo; how long the children have been on these waiting lists; and when he expects that they will gain admission to institutions for treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Handicapped Children.
72.
Mr. O'Malley
There are no physically handicapped children from Mayo on the health authority's waiting list for placement in special residential centres. The number of mentally handicapped children awaiting placement is 19, of whom six are waiting less than twelve months; two are waiting from one to two years; six are waiting two to three years and five are waiting three to four years.
While I am unable to state when these children are likely to be admitted, a total of 420 places in the special institutions for the mentally handicapped are at present under construction or in planning, in addition to the 3,111 places which were available at the end of last year and the 225 places which became available since that date. The recommendations of the Commission on Mental Handicap for the provision of additional accommodation are at present under examination.
Is the Minister in a position to say that the numbers he has indicated represent the only children awaiting admission to hospital or would he agree that there may be other children in Mayo who have not been assessed? In other words, have Mayo County Council made a survey of the problem in the county?
Mr. O'Malley
I think this would be a reasonable assessment of the position in Mayo. Of course, in other counties there are a great number awaiting admission.
The Minister cannot say whether or not the county council have made a survey?
Mr. O'Malley
This is what the health authority in Mayo consider to be the position.
Does the Minister not agree that the only means the county council have of knowing the problem is by virtue of applications made by parents to the council? Do the county council investigate the problem?
Mr. O'Malley
Yes. The medical officer of health in Mayo would be conversant with the position in this case and the Deputy can rest assured that this is an approximately correct assessment.