Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Feb 1996

Vol. 460 No. 8

Written Answers. - Funding of Services for Mentally Handicapped.

Alan M. Dukes

Ceist:

50 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health the financial provision made for services to persons with mental handicap in the State and in the Eastern Health Board area in each of the years from 1990 to 1995; and the proposals, if any, he has for extending these services in 1996. [2245/96]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. O'Shea)

The estimated national expenditure by my Department on services provided to persons with a mental handicap, which includes allowances such as the disabled person's maintenance allowance and domiciliary care allowance, in the years 1990 to 1995 is as follows:

Year	Estimated Expenditure
	£million
1990	162.414
1991	171.094
1992	194,137
1993	217.215
1994	238.070
1995	243.313*

*The information in respect of disabled person's maintenance allowance in 1995 does not refer to the full year expenditure as the funding for this allowance transferred to the Department of Social Welfare with effect from 1 July 1995.

Expenditure on actual services provided to persons with a mental handicap in the Eastern Health board region, by the health board, voluntary agencies funded through the board and voluntary agencies funded directly by the Department, in the years 1990 to 1995 was as follows:

Year	Expenditure
	£million
1990	36.844
1991	51.128
1992	59.313
1993	68.048
1994	73.081
1995	81.047

New services provided during this period include the development of the home support services, the provision of over 1,000 new residential-respite places, 2,100 new day care places and the enhancement of existing services for clients.

Additional funding of £10 million had been made available in 1996 for services to persons with a mental handicap, of which £6 million is revenue and £4 million is capital.

While I am satisfied that this injection of funds is making a substantial impact, I am aware that more needs to be done if we are to meet the needs of those awaiting services. The Government is committed to the continued development of services, as resources become available. This commitment is outlined in bothA Government of Renewal and the health strategy Shaping a Healthier Future.

It is also my intention, on completion of the validation process in respect of the national mental handicap database later this year, to initiate a review of the implementation of both policy documentsNeeds and Abilities and Services to Persons with Autism with a view to preparing an overall medium term development plan for the services.