asked the Minister for Health the number of severely retarded children awaiting admission to institutions; and when he hopes to accommodate such applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retarded Children.
29.
At 31st March last there were 352 severely mentally handicapped children on health authorities waiting lists for admission to special institutions.
Since then 60 extra places have become available at one of the special institutions; 40 extra places are under construction and 200 places are in planning as extensions to existing mental handicap centres and I am hopeful that further early relief will be afforded through the use of existing institutions.
Can the Minister give us any information as to how many severely retarded children there are in the country altogether?
I have given that figure, 352.
The Minister said that there were 352 awaiting admission. How many are there in the country altogether?
There are various types.
I said "severely retarded".
If you included the mildly handicapped, it would bring the number to 814.
Surely there are over 17,000 retarded children in the country as a whole?
My question deals solely with severely retarded children.
I can give the figures on the waiting list. These are the only figures I have.
I am asking the Minister does he know the total number?
No. I have not got the total figure.
When a survey was made, the estimate was about 25,000.