I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 21 together.
An allocation of £5 million revenue and £1 million capital has been made available for the development of additional mental handicap services throughout the country. Because of the particularly serious situation which exists in the Dublin area £2.65 million has been allocated for the development of an extra 45 residential places, 20 respite places to serve 240 people, 125 day care places, a home support service for 300-500 families, 20 emergency places, an improved and expanded service for people with mental handicap who are also disturbed and 15 day places for children. The operational details of the additional services to be provided and the people with mental handicap to benefit are being considered by the Mental Handicap Central Planning Committee of the Eastern Health Board. Their proposals are awaited.
The recommendations of the report Needs and Abilities have been accepted in principle by the Government. I would like to assure the House of my intention to develop services for persons with a mental handicap as set out in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. Of course the speed with which this can be achieved will be determined by the availability of funds in the context of the State of the Exchequer's finances.
The reorganisation of the health services in the Eastern Health Board area will include a single new authority which will be responsible for all health and personal social services in the eastern region. It will take over the present function of the Eastern Health Board as well as some of the functions of the Department of Health and will ensure that health services in the region are delivered in an integrated and co-ordinated way. I am happy to say that in so far as mental handicap services are concerned there is already considerable co-ordination in health board areas because of the establishment of co-ordinating committees which are representative of the health board and the voluntary agencies in each area.