Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Mar 1990

Vol. 396 No. 5

Written Answers. - Treatment Facilities for Disabled Children.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

84 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the current practice whereby many disabled Irish children are being taken to the Peto Institute in Budapest, Hungary, for treatment and education at enormous expense and personal difficulty to the families concerned; the steps he is willing to take to offer those disabled persons adequate treatment and education here in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

Adequate services for children suffering from motor disorders are already available in this country. It has not been established that conductive education, which is the description of the regime provided since 1945 at the Peto Institute in Budapest, is superior to the education and therapy services being offered here.

However, the main service providers here have closely examined the conductive education system. They are satisfied that there are positive elements in it and are incorporating these elements in their programmes.