Vol. 463 No. 1
58 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that will be appropriately placed in services in 1996 out of the 363 mental handicapped patients that are totally inappropriately placed in psychiatric hospitals in the Eastern Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5815/96]
I would initially like to point out to the Deputy that not all of the 363 persons with a mental handicap in psychiatric hospitals in the Eastern Health board region are inappropriately placed. While a large proportion of this group will be considered for transfer as resources come on stream, some because of their ongoing mental health needs are, in fact, appropriately placed. In the case of others, because of their age or the length of time which they have spent in a psychiatric hospital, a transfer to the generic mental handicap services is not deemed to be appropriate.
A sum of £400,000 was made available to the Eastern Health Board last year towards the purchase of suitable residential accommodation in the community. This will allow up to 24 people with a mental handicap to be transferred from St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, this year.
I am currently considering proposals which will allow further transfers. The Eastern Health Board has prepared a draft plan which addresses the needs of people with a mental handicap in St. Joseph's Service, St. Ita's Hospital. The board plans in the medium term to move over 200 of the younger adults with mental handicap to a number of alternative locations spread throughout the board's area. It is proposed that the clients remaining on the St. Ita's campus will be accommodated in the more modern units on site which are being gradually upgraded.
I have recently initiated a major review of needs, based on the national mental handicap database, which will lead to the preparation of a five year development plan later this year. That plan will provide for the relocation of inappropriately placed persons with a mental handicap over the period.
