asked the Minister for Health if he is prepared to undertake direct responsibility for the salaries and other conditions of employment of social workers and educational psychologists currently employed on an ad hoc basis by schools for the mentally handicapped.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Handicapped Children.
8.
I presume the Deputy's question relates to residential centres. Nearly all such centres are under the control of voluntary organisations, mostly religious orders, who make their own arrangements for employment of all necessary staff. Running costs are met by capitation rates paid by health authorities, in respect of children admitted. The capitation rate in relation to each centre is determined by me in the light of the operational costs, as revealed in the audited accounts. I see no justification for my assuming direct responsibility for the salaries and conditions of employment of particular classes of staff.
9.
asked the Minister for Health the maintenance allowance payable for each child in a residential school (a) for the mildly mentally handicapped, (b) for the moderately mentally handicapped and (c) for the deaf; if he will state the precise Departmental responsibility for each category of child; and if he will indicate what other grants are available towards the maintenance and education of each category.
The capitation rate payable by health authorities for services under the Health Acts provided in residential homes catering for mentally handicapped patients is not in most cases related solely to expenditure in an individual home but rather to the aggregate costs in all homes for mentally handicapped persons operated by the particular religious order or voluntary organisation. Further, particular homes cater for patients suffering from different degrees of mental handicap. In these circumstances it is not possible to furnish information in the precise form requested at (a) and (b) but the range of payments for such children may be taken to be from £6 to £9 9s. a week.
The capitation rate payable by health authoríties for the maintenance of children eligible for health services in a residential school for the deaf is £4 a week for one such school and £5 a week for the two other schools in this category.
The responsibilities of the Minister for Health in regard to these homes relate to the cost of maintenance and treatment and the capitation rates payable by health authorities are based on costs under these headings. Where special schools are provided the Minister for Education provides grants towards the teachers' salaries, the costs of heating and cleaning classrooms and the provision of teaching aids and materials.
10.
asked the Minister for Health if he will urge health authorities that when children attending schools for the mildly mentally handicapped are travelling to and from their homes to these schools, particularly from rural homes to Dublin schools, to facilitate effective educational development of such children they be issued with road and rail travel permits by the authorities in consultation with the school authorities concerned instead of travelling by health authority ambulances.
The decision to allow mildly handicapped children to travel to and from the residential centres by public transport must depend on the degree of independence attained by the children and their capacity for socialisation and management of interpersonal relationships. I accept that the use of public transport can be helpful in the development of the ability of the handicapped child. I understand that children whose abilities have developed are permitted to travel to and from the special centres by public transport. The authorities of the special centres are in the best position to advise on when permission to use public transport will be in the best interest of a child. I understand that this advice is given whenever it is considered advisable to do so.