andDr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Health the total number of mentally sub-normal children awaiting admission to institutions in the Republic; and the total number of new beds becoming available in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Handicapped Children.
13.
Dr. Browne, Mr. M. O'Leary
According to returns received from health authorities the approximate number of children on waiting lists at the end of March, 1969, was 1,100.
In reply to a parliamentary question on 11th November last, I gave particulars of a programme for the provision of about 1,500 extra beds. This includes about 1,000 beds for adults but the provision of these beds will, in the main, result in the release of accommodation for children and the programme when completed will meet the target set by the Commission of Inquiry on Mental Handicap for special residential accommodation for severely and moderately handicapped children and adults in need of such care.
Of the 1,500 beds I anticipate that 218 will become available this year, 265 in 1971 and 335 in 1972. It is hoped that the balance will be provided before 1975.
Can the Minister say how many children, of those waiting for beds last year, will be accommodated in this coming year?
218 this year.
What is the total need at present?
1,500.
So we will be providing one-eighth of the demand for such beds this year?
I have already explained to the House, and the Deputy knows very well, that my Department is ceaseless in its activities to gain the attention and the help of the religious orders whose help has been absolutely marvellous in this respect and such lay organisations as are willing to look after these children. Every time we get an offer from an order or from any association to look after an additional number of persons we take it up and there is no delay in building the extension of accommodation required or in taking over building. This programme is simply based on the time that it takes to get people trained for this work and on the minimum time that it takes to get the extensions completed and on the statements made to us by the religious orders as to the pace at which they can move. I can assure the House that this is one of the priorities and I cannot advance it any faster than it is being advanced much as I would like to do so.
I am not confusing the Minister with a religious order but I am putting my question to him as Minister for Health. Am I to understand that almost 1,300 children will be waiting again in vain this year for beds?
That is the case.
Would the Minister agree that as Minister for Health it is not his job to wait for, as he truly says, the magnificent efforts of religious orders who are doing a good job and no thanks to him? What is he, as Minister for Health, doing to fulfil this demand of sick, subnormal children?
The Deputy shows his complete ignorance of this problem. If he were to ask the people in charge of the mentally handicapped they would tell him that the gift of looking after mentally handicapped children is a very rare gift, that the people require training, that they have to have the spiritual and physical willingness to do the job and that we are tapping all the available talent for this purpose.
The Minister need not think he will evade his responsibility as Minister for Health by saying that we need mystics to look after handicapped children.
Question No. 14. Would the Deputy please appreciate that there are 300 questions on the Order Paper?
The Minister has a job to do and he is not doing it.
The Deputy is talking arrant nonsense.
Order. There are 300 Questions on the Order Paper.
(Interruptions.)
14.
asked the Minister for Health the names of the institutions in receipt of capitation fees in respect of mentally handicapped children treated on a day basis; the names of institutions from which applications for similar payments have been made but not yet approved and the reasons for the delay in making decisions on such applications.
There is no prescribed capitation fee in respect of mentally handicapped children treated on a day basis. Health authorities, as a rule, make grants with my approval under the provisions of section 65 of the Health Act, 1953, towards the running costs of special day schools and care units and in some cases towards the cost of day patients attending at residential centres. With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report a list of the centres for which such grants have been approved.
There are no applications at present in my Department awaiting approval.
Following is the statement:
List of mental handicap centres for which grants under section 65 of the Health Act, 1953 have been approved in respect of services on a day basis
Stewart's Hospital, Palmerstown, Co. Dublin.
St. Mary's Drumcar, Co. Louth.
St. Raphael's Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
St. Vincent's Cabra, Dublin.
Queen of Angels, Cork.
St. Paul's, Cork.
St. Elizabeth's, Cork.
St. Mary's, Delvin, Co. Westmeath.
St. Clare's School, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Scoil Bernadette, Cork.
Cork Polio Workshop, Cork.
St. Michael's Grosvenor Road, Dublin.
St. Michael's, Ballymun, Dublin.
St. Michael's Special Care Unit, Ballymun, Dublin.
St. Michael's Sheltered Workshop, Goatstown, Dublin.
St. Michael's Special Care Unit, Crumlin, Dublin.
St. Michael's House, Finglas, Dublin.
St. John of God Day School, Islandbridge, Dublin.
St. John of God Day School, Glenageary, Dublin.
St. Anne's Special School, Newbridge, co. Kildare.
St. Joseph's Special School, Newcastle, Galway.
St. Gabriel's Day Centre, Limerick.
St. Christopher's School, Longford.
St. Ita's, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
St. Dympna's, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
St. Anthony's School, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
St. Ultan's School, Navan, Co. Meath.
Carrickmacross Special School, Monaghan.
St. Martin's Special School, Lady Lane, Waterford.
St. Michael's Special School, Waterford.
The Creche, Waterford.
St. Hilda's School, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
St. Patrick's, Enniscorthy, Wexford.
Mohill Day Centre, Co. Leitrim.
St. John's School, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.