Vol. 396 No. 6
181 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Meath obtained a place in a suitable hostel care in view of the fact that the application was with the North Eastern Health Board from April 1988.
Provision of residential places for people with a mental handicap is a matter for each health board in the first instance. Places are allocated on the basis of the priority needs of individual cases, having regard to the assessments made by the relevant professionals.
I have made inquiries from the North Eastern Health Board in this case. This person is currently living in a high support hostel in England. He has been assessed at St. Mary's Drumcar, County Louth but no suitable place is available for him at present. I have asked the board to continue their efforts to find an appropriate residential service in this case.
