Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 2

Written Answers. - Services for Mentally and Physically Disabled.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

68 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the provision made for mentally and physically disabled people living at home with a parent if that parent dies and no other guardian can be found; if he has satisfied himself with the current situation; and if not, the plans, if any, he has to provide a satisfactory service for those who need support.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I regard the ability of both statutory and voluntary service providers to respond to an emergency such as the death of a parent or guardian as a very important part of our services for people with physical disabilities and mental handicap.

With regard to services for people with a mental handicap, the additional funding provided both this year and in 1992 has been used to specifically address a number of gaps in services.

In 1992 the provision of an additional £5 million revenue and £1 million capital enabled 127 extra residential and 26 extra emergency places, among other support services, to be put in place.

An additional £8.5 million has been made available in 1993 for the further development of services for people with a mental handicap.

Of the additional £8.5 million, I have made available new resources of £2 million to strengthen the funding base of the direct funded mental handicap agencies and to meet some essential service needs.

Four million pounds has been allocated to the health board regions and this money will be used to provide a broad range of additional services, including 90 residential places for the provision of on-going care and for emergency and respite care.

Provision has also been made for the capital investment necessary to support the initiatives which will be put in place this year through the allocation of £2.5 million capital funding which was made available in the budget.

The additional funds which have been provided this year, together with the £6 million spent in 1992 and which is being repeated this year, should ensure that every genuine emergency case which may arise in future can be catered for by the agencies which provide services for people with mental handicap.

As regards people with physical disabilities, there are approximately 360 residential care places available to cater specifically for this group. A new Cheshire Home at Monkstown which opened last year provides 20 places. An additional 20 residential places will become available when the Cheshire Homes in Sligo and Letterkenny open later this year.

The Review Group on Physical Disability has presented me with interim recommendations. I hope that some progress can be made this year in increasing the number of residential care facilities for people with physical and sensory disabilities.