asked the Minister for Health if he has received a full report on the death of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 and the injuries sustained by his mother; the proposals, if any, he has to take action to improve the psychiatric back-up services in the area with particular reference to the plans of Gingerbread to establish a branch in Finglas; the plans; if any, he has in relation to psychiatric back-up services which have been hindered by cutbacks in Government subventions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Back-up Services.
32.
The provision of psychiatric services in the Finglas area is a matter for the Eastern Health Board.
I have received a report from the board on the incident referred to by the Deputy. I am satisfied that the mother concerned received appropriate treatment following referral to the board's psychiatric service. The Eastern Health Board is satisfied that the needs of the Finglas area are being adequately met by its psychiatric service. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the Eastern Health Board has embarked on a programme of development of community psychiatric services in line with the recommendations of the report of the study group on the development of the psychiatric services — planning for the future. A range of community-based facilities are either in place or in the course of planning in each sector of the board's area including the Finglas sector.
The single parent support group — Gingerbread receives funding through the social employment scheme which is administered by the Department of Labour and it is open to that group to make application to the Department of Labour for further assistance for the purposes of establishing a branch in Finglas.