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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Nov 1977

Vol. 301 No. 3

Written Answers. - Mentally Handicapped.

487.

asked the Minister for Health the number of places in residential homes for the adult mentally handicapped; and the number at present awaiting admission.

There are 2,461 places for the adult mentally handicapped in special residential homes. According to the waiting lists maintained by health boards there are 180 adults awaiting admission to special residential homes. This figure does not give an accurate picture of the total awaiting admission as many families approach the special residential homes direct and these requests are not always brought to the attention of the appropriate health board. Furthermore, there are adult mentally handicapped occupying places in residential centres intended for children who would be transferred to adult accommodation if such were available.

At present a detailed examination of the census of the mentally handicapped which was carried out by the Medico-Social Research Board in 1974 is being carried out by a special study group with a view to establishing the extent of the services required, now and in the future.

488.

asked the Minister for Health the total number of mentally handicapped people in Ireland.

The census of the mentally handicapped conducted by the Medico-Social Research Board in 1974 shows 8,092 persons of mild, moderate, severe and profound degrees of handicap in residential institutions of all types. The census also shows 4,863 mentally handicapped persons living at home. Ascertainment of this latter group was limited to the moderate, severe and profound categories of mentally handicapped persons aged four and upwards. The number of mildly mentally handicapped people living at home is not known.

489.

asked the Minister for Health the total number of (a) mentally handicapped adults, and (b) mentally handicapped children at present receiving institutional care; the number at present awaiting admission to institutional care; and these figures broken down by health board areas.

The particulars are as follows:

(a)

(b)

Numbers in Residential Care

Numbers on Health Board Waiting List for Residential Care*

Health Board area of origin

Children (0-14 years)

Adults

Total

Children (0-16 years)

Adults

Total

Eastern

491

1,513

2,004

351

84

435

Midland

204

487

691

23

10

33

Mid-Western

302

467

769

79

31

110

North-Eastern

159

543

702

53

7

60

North-Western

169

435

604

36

36

South-Eastern

257

708

965

55

23

78

Southern

506

842

1,348

122

3

125

Western

237

772

1,009

44

22

66

Totals

2,325

5,767

8,092

763

180

943

* As explained in reply to Question No. 487 the numbers on the waiting lists maintained by health boards do not give an accurate picture of the total awaiting admission to residential care.

The figures at (a) are from the Medico-Social Research Board census 1974; the details in respect of children are only available up to 14 years.

The figures at (b) are from returns furnished by the health boards and relate to 31st March 1977.

490.

asked the Minister for Health the total amount allocated from his Department's budget for the mentally handicapped in each of the last five years.

The information requested is contained in the following table:

Expenditure on services for the mentally handicapped

Year

Non-Capital Expenditure

Capital Expenditure

£ million

£ million

1972-73

8.50

1.58

1973-74

10.58

1.42

1974 (April-December)

10.62

1.42

1975

17.93

2.05

1976

21.23

1.38

NOTE: (1) The information relates to the budgets of health boards and other agencies and not to the actual allocations from the Department's Vote. The proportion of the total cost from the Vote changed considerably within the period because of the policy for the removal of health charges from the rates.

(2) There is an element of estimation in the figures to include the cost attributable to the care of the mentally handicapped in psychiatric hospitals.

491.

asked the Minister for Health the total amount allocated by each of the area health boards for the care of the mentally handicapped in each of the last five years.

The information is set out in the following table:

Expenditure on services for the mentally handicapped by each health board

Health Board

1972-73

1973-74

1974 (9 months)

1975

1976

Non-Capital

Capital

Non-Capital

Capital

Non-Capital

Capital

Non-Capital

Capital

Non-Capital

Capital

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

£(m)

Eastern

2.10

0.689

2.80

0.528

2.85

0.441

4.85

0.581

5.76

0.302

Midland

0.67

0.020

0.86

0.040

0.87

0.023

1.43

0.030

1.63

0.022

Mid-Western

0.76

0.116

0.98

0.190

0.99

0.501

1.73

0.837

1.94

0.473

North Eastern

0.71

0.005

0.87

0.012

0.88

0.004

1.45

0.002

1.68

0.012

North Western

0.69

0.194

0.82

0.132

0.87

0.162

1.38

0.019

1.72

0.015

South Eastern

1.04

0.080

1.16

0.052

1.14

0.073

1.83

0.309

2.31

0.447

Southern

1.35

0.273

1.72

0.180

1.64

0.095

3.08

0.116

3.50

0.049

Western

1.18

0.200

1.37

0.285

1.38

0.120

2.18

0.155

2.69

0.057

492.

asked the Minister for Health the total number of institutions, voluntary and State, caring for the mentally handicapped in Ireland.

According to the census of the mentally handicapped carried out by the Medico-Social Research Board in 1974 there were 166 residential institutions caring for the mentally handicapped in this country. These institutions include mental handicap centres, psychiatric hospitals, residential homes, schools for young offenders, geriatric homes and paediatric hospitals. The number of residential homes caring specifically for the mentally handicapped is 35.

493.

asked the Minister for Health the proportion of (a) capital (b) non-capital expenditure on health devoted to the mentally handicapped area in each of the last ten years and the estimated proportions for 1977.

The information is set out in the following table:

Percentage of expenditure on Health devoted to the mentally handicapped.

Year

Capital

Non-Capital

%

%

1967-68

6.3

7.7

1968-69

8.2

7.7

1969-70

10.4

7.8

1970-71

11.6

7.9

1971-72

16.2

8.0

1972-73

24.3

7.9

1973-74

16.1

7.4

1974 (April-December)

20.2

7.9

1975

20.7

7.5

1976

12.3

7.7

1977 (estimate)

12.0

8.0

(estimate)

494.

asked the Minister for Health what percentages of the mentally handicapped are catered for in training centres, sheltered workshops or associated educational centres in each of the health board areas, and the proportions of these which are in (a) day and (b) residential care centres.

While the available statistics in regard to the numbers of mentally handicapped in health board areas include all who are moderately, severely and profoundly handicapped they cover only the mildly handicapped who are receiving residential care. Since a total figure is not therefore available it is not possible to give the Deputy the percentages he seeks.

The following are figures for the number of mentally handicapped in (a) day centres and (b) residential centres in each health board area together with the numbers in those centres who are attending special schools, special classes, training centres and sheltered workshops. In examining these statistics it should be borne in mind that all those in residential care in a health board area are not necessarily from that area.

(a)

(b)

Health Board area in which centre is located

Number attending Day-Services of all types

Number in Day-Services who are attending special schools, special classes, training centres and sheltered workshops

Number in special residential centres

Number in residential care attending special schools, special class training centres and sheltered workshops

Eastern

2,158

1,694

2,184

1,241

Midland

477

453

202

146

Mid-Western

440

366

401

153

North-Eastern

526

517

352

121

North-Western

147

147

313

153

South-Eastern

859

829

360

169

Southern

726

675

836

531

Western

398

361

352

206

Total

5,731

5,042

5,000

2,720

495.

asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses with a special qualification in the care of the mentally handicapped; the numbers trained annually; and the centres where such training takes place.

There are at present 723 nurses registered in the mental handicap division of the register of nurses kept by An Bord Altranais. The current annual output of nurses trained in the care of the mentally handicapped is in the region of 130-140 annually.

Training is carried out at the following centres: St. Joseph's, Clonsilla, Co. Dublin (in union with St. Vincent's, Cabra and Holy Angels, Glenmaroon); St. Anne's, Moore Abbey, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare; St. Vincent's, Lisnagry, Co. Limerick; St. James's School of Nursing, Cork; St. Raphael's, Celbridge, Co. Kildare; St. Mary's, Drumcar, Dunleer, Co. Louth (in union with St. Augustine's, Obelisk Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin); Stewarts' Hospital, Palmerstown, Co. Dublin; Cregg House, Sligo.

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