Vol. 242 No. 4
asked the Minister for Health what steps he is taking to have residential schools provided for moderately mentally handicapped children in this country; and the reason for the delay in having a residential school erected in Bohola, County Mayo, where a person (name supplied) has offered six acres of land and a house and has also collected a considerable amount of money for such a school.
4.
asked the Minister for Health what steps he is taking to provide accommodation for mentally handicapped children in County Mayo who find it impossible to get into homes in this country and who are on the waiting list for four to five years.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
Accommodation for the mentally handicapped is not provided on a county basis and the special residential centres accept children from all areas.
There are at present schemes under construction or in planning which will provide about 1,500 places in the special residential centres for the mentally handicapped over the next few years. I propose, again, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report a table showing where these places will be provided. It will be seen from the table that 360 places will be provided at Galway and Sligo.
This programme when completed will meet the target set by the Commission of Inquiry on Mental Handicap for residential accommodation for severely and moderately handicapped children in need of such care.
The suggested establishment of a residential centre at Bohola, County Mayo, is a matter primarily for the sponsors of the project at this stage. In August last my Department requested information on certain aspects of the proposals and a reply is awaited.
Following is the statement:
SCHEMES for the provision of places for the mentally handicapped at present in progress or in planning.
|
Children (under 16 years of age) |
Adults over 16 years |
Total |
||||||
|
Severely Handicapped |
Moderately Handicapped |
|||||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
|
|
Moore Abbey,Monasterevan, County Kildare |
11025 |
11025 |
||||||
|
St. Raphael's, Celbridge, County Kildare |
60 |
50 |
110 |
|||||
|
La Sagesse Convent, Cregg House, Sligo |
20 |
40 |
100 |
20 |
140 |
|||
|
Cork Polio and General After-Care Association* |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
||||
|
Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea |
20 |
30 |
20 |
30 |
40 |
60 |
||
|
St. Patrick's, Upton, County Cork |
200 |
200 |
||||||
|
St. Patrick's, Kilkenny |
25 |
25 |
50 |
25 |
75 |
|||
|
Peamount Hospital, County Dublin |
80 |
80 |
||||||
|
Proposed new Centre at Galway |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
50 |
50 |
||
|
St. Mary's, Delvin, County West-Meath |
20 |
20 |
||||||
|
St. Joseph's, Clonsilla, County Dublin |
50 |
50 |
||||||
|
St. Joseph's, Kilcornan, Claren-bridge |
100 |
100 |
||||||
|
St. Patrick's, Belmont Park, Waterford |
90 |
90 |
||||||
|
Proposed new Centre at Limerick |
150 |
150 |
||||||
|
Bon Sauveur Hospital, Carriglea, Dungarvan |
30 |
30 |
||||||
|
Totals |
155 |
145 |
70 |
80 |
670 |
365 |
895 |
590 |
TOTALS — 1,485
*20 places for psychiatric children will also be provided at this centre.
Is the Minister aware that a considerable amount of money has been collected by this particular gentlemen, Mr. Paul O'Dwyer, and, as well as that, he has offered six acres of land and his house in Mayo for the purpose of providing a school for moderately mentally handicapped children? Would the Minister say what may be done at this stage to provide a school in Bohola?
There are obviously problems associated with the creation of a centre in Bohola, or anywhere else for that matter, and the questions are concerned, in particular, with staffing problems and the problem of the continuation of a supply of funds. We are simply awaiting replies to these questions from the promoters of the project before any further steps are or can be taken.
(Cavan): Would the Minister agree that there is a very long waiting list for admission to these hospitals for mentally retarded children? I take it he appreciates that it is a source of very great concern to the parents of these children. Would he give any assurance or any hope that an adequate number of beds will be provided so as to cut down this waiting list to the minimum?
I am satisfied that the Minister and the Department of Health are both making very possible effort to provide as many of these residential units as they can and as quickly as possible.
(Cavan): Does the Minister appreciate that there is a waiting period of up to four or five years?
It depends on the nature of the illness whether or not there is such a waiting period.
(Cavan): Does the Minister not agree that it is a disgrace in some cases?
In some cases, it could be very long.
In about eight to ten cases, parents have reported to me that they find it impossible to get their mentally handicapped children into an institution. The Minister has said that there will be accommodation for them in the near future. If I submit names of such children to the Minister——
We cannot have a speech on this. The Deputy is entitled to put a question.
If I submit some names to him, will the Minister ensure that these children will be accommodated in suitable institutions in the next month or two?
I do not think this is relevant to the question which was asked.
