asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding the proposal to provide a residential centre for mentally handicapped children in Cork; where and when it will be provided; the accommodation it will offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Cork Mentally Handicapped Children.
137.
There are already several centres in Cork catering for mentally handicapped children. This year I made funds available to Cork Polio and General After-Care Association to acquire additional premises at Montenotte, Cork. Necessary alterations and repairs are practically completed and accommodation for about 30 children will be available. The question of providing further facilities to permit of an increase in this number to 50 is at present under examination.
In addition, I have offered Cork Polio and General After-Care Association a further grant to provide not less than 80 additional beds for severely handicapped children. It is intended that these also will be provided at Montenotte and I would hope that they will be available within the next year or two.
I am sorry I omitted to put the word "severely" into my question.
I wonder was the Deputy thinking of autistic children?
Yes.
The situation here is that apart from one in Cork, we are going ahead with the provision of an additional unit in Dublin which will cater for county children and I am hoping that Cork will not confine their recruitment to the county, or even the province, because I believe that between those two units, when they are fully operational, we should be able to help every autistic child in the country.
The Cork one will be additional to the 80 the Minister spoke about, the severely handicapped?
Yes; at least I think so.