Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 5

Written Answers. - Services for Mentally Handicapped.

Mary Flaherty

Ceist:

18 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Health the number of additional places that will be provided for services for the mentally handicapped in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the current progress made in reducing the long waiting lists. [9414/96]

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

The additional funding provided in 1996 for the development of new services for persons with a mental handicap will enable the health boards to put in place between 66 and 70 new residential-respite places and 265 day care places as well as home support services.

As the Deputy is aware, substantial additional funding has been made available in recent years for the development of services to persons with a mental handicap. In the period 1990-95 additional funding amounting to £44.58 million has been invested in the services. New services provided include the development of the home support services and the provision of over 1,000 new residential-respite places and 2,100 new day care places.

While I am satisfied that this injection of funds has made a substantial impact on the waiting lists. I am aware that more needs to be done if we are to meet the needs of those awaiting services. That commitment is reflected in my decision, with my colleague the Minister, Deputy Noonan, to prepare a five year service development plan to meet the needs identified by the new national mental handicap database which will give a clearer picture of the level of unmet need. I expect the plan to be ready later this year when the information from the database becomes available.

This development plan will play an important role in the Estimates discussions later this year in the context of agreeing additional resources in 1997 and subsequent years for the continued development of services to persons with a mental handicap in line with the targets to be set out in the plan.