Vol. 241 No. 10
asked the Minister for Health if a complete assessment has been made or is in progress in regard to autistic children in the State; if training staff, accommodation and centres are available and also instruction and educational facilities with transport where required; and the plans he has put into operation or has under consideration in this regard.
10.
asked the Minister for Health if he will provide substantial funds to voluntary associations or health authorities to deal with the early diagnosis and treatment of autistic children.
With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
I would refer the Deputy to the answer given to him by my predecessor on 20th June, 1968.
No assessment has been made or is in progress in regard to the number of autistic children in the State. As previously indicated, there is a residential unit of 30 beds for mentally ill children, including autistic children, at St. Loman's, Ballyowen, County Dublin, and a day-centre at St. Kevin's Hospital, Dublin. A further 24 bed unit at Beaumont, Dublin, has also been built and two additional 24 bed units are in planning at Stillorgan, County Dublin, and in Cork. Schools are available at the units at St. Loman's and St. Kevin's and schools will be provided at the other units mentioned. Transport is, or will be, provided at all units.
There is a shortage of trained child psychiatrists and this presents a major problem in the development of services.
Three of the units I have mentioned are, or will be, provided by voluntary organisations, mainly from funds contributed by my Department or by health authorities. I am prepared to assist any organisation which can provide suitable services.
Does the Minister not think that a survey is necessary in order to arrive at a proper assessment of the number of beds and the hospital accommodation that may be required?
We are doing surveys. We have had the report of the Commission on Mental Handicap and we have examined all its provisions and have been doing surveys as to the number of beds required. We have made plans for the provision of beds for mentally handicapped and psychiatrically ill children and we are making progress, as the Deputy knows.
Are the results of the surveys alarming or just what we would expect?
I do not think it is abnormal. I would not say it is very alarming. There are more mentally disabled or mentally handicapped people in every country than the people of these countries were aware of in previous years. We are dealing with it as well as we can. Also, in reply to the Deputy, there is so far very little agreement on what exactly is meant by the autistic child.
Emotionally disturbed but not mentally retarded.
It is a very difficult matter to estimate—the autistic child.
11.
asked the Minister for Health if he will provide allowances to be paid in the case of all parents of mentally retarded and autistic children without regard to means of the family, in view of the special care to be provided at home by parents who cannot find accommodation for such children in any suitable institution.
Under the disabled persons maintenance regulations, allowances may be paid to handicapped persons over 16 years of age who are not maintained in institutions and whose near relatives are unable to maintain them. The present Health Bill proposes that in assessing eligibility for these maintenance allowances only the handicapped person's own means and that of a husband or wife will be taken into account.
While there is no special scheme for financial assistance for mentally handicapped or autistic children under 16 years of age who are cared for in their own homes, in necessitous cases health authorities provide special foods, medicines, drugs and appliances necessary for the home care of such children.
I am not satisfied that it is necessary or desirable to provide allowances (as distinct from other types of assistance as mentioned) for parents as suggested in the question—thus setting mentally handicapped and autistic children apart from other ill or handicapped children in need of special care. But, as the Dáil must be well aware, every effort is being made to expendite the provision of additional suitable accommodation for the care and treatment of these cases.
