Vol. 466 No. 6
43 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he proposes to take regarding documentation (details supplied) which he has received; when this documentation was received; the amount of money being allocated for these services in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11955/96]
As the Deputy is aware, it is my intention, with my colleague the Minister, Deputy Noonan, to prepare a five year service development plan for the services to persons with a mental handicap to meet the needs identified by the new national mental handicap database. The health boards, including the Western Health Board, have been asked to prepare regional development plans for submission to my Department as part of this process.
I understand that the document to which the Deputy is referring is the initial draft of the five year development plan for the Western Health Board region which was received by my Department on 7 June 1996. The needs which are being identified by the national mental handicap database on a regional basis will be examined by my Department over the coming months and I expect the overall plan to be available later this year.
This development plan will play an important role in the Estimates discussions later this year with a view to providing additional funding in 1997 and future years for the continued development of services to persons with a mental handicap.
