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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mentally Handicapped People.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

23 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health the comfort, if any, he can offer to people with mental handicap in view of his announcement to make provision for 66 new places in 1996 when 1,450 residential places are required; and if he will meet with the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped in Ireland and any other concerned agencies to address this crisis. [5714/96]

Desmond J. O'Malley

Ceist:

44 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the allocation of additional funding for 1996 for services to persons with a mental handicap is sufficient to make any impact on the overall needs of this group of individuals particularly in relation to the need for day care places and residential/respite places in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5778/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 44 together.

Additional funding of £10 million has been made available in 1996 for services to persons with a mental handicap. This includes £6 million revenue funding of which £3 million is being provided to meet the 1996 cost of additional services which were put in place in 1995. The remaining £3 million revenue funding provided will facilitate the provision of an additional 66 residential/respite places and 265 day care places as well as home support services this year.

In addition, £4 million capital funding is being provided of which £2 million will be used to support general service developments. The remaining £2 million will be used to develop and improve the quality of training facilities for persons with a mental handicap under the European Regional Development Fund assisted programme. As the Deputies are aware, substantial additional funding has been made available in recent years for the development of services to persons with a mental handicap. Additional funding of £44.58 million was invested in the services in the period 1990-95 which has enabled health boards to put in place over 1,000 additional residential places and 2,100 day care places.
I am satisfied that this additional annual funding has made a significant impact on the number of persons with a mental handicap awaiting services. However, I am aware that more needs to be done. The Government is committed under both the Health Strategy document "Shaping a Healthier Future" andA Government of Renewal to the continued development of the service as resources become available.
That commitment is reflected in my decision with my colleague the Minister for Health Deputy Noonan, to prepare a five year service development plan to meet the needs identified by the new national mental handicap database. I expect the plan to be ready later this year when the database becomes available.
Since my appointment as Minister of State with special responsibility for services to persons with a mental handicap, I have met with a wide number of agencies and representative associations, including the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland (NAMHI). All such requests are given sympathetic consideration.
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