Vol. 438 No. 5
191 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the number of people with a disability who are awaiting the provision of a service; if he will give a breakdown of the numbers waiting for residential care, day places or other services; and when adequate provision of services will be more available to people with a disability.
Information currently available suggests that about 1,300 people with a mental handicap are waiting for residential services and 1,500 for day services. Additional funding of £12.5m is being provided for the development of mental handicap services in 1994. As in previous years, this funding will be allocated following consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees and will be used to provide, inter alia, additional residential and day places.
In regard to people with a physical or sensory disability detailed information of the kind requested by the Deputy is not collected by my Department as a matter of routine. However, it is planned to establish a national database on persons with a physical or sensory disability and this matter is being examined by the Review Group on Physical and Sensory Disability.
I am committed to improving the provision of health services for people with a disability and will examine how this can best be achieved in the light of the recommendations of the Review Group whose final report will be published later this year.
