Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

568 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the provision for services for the mentally handicapped which are badly needed in the Ballinasloe area of Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1552/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The provision of services to persons with a mental handicap in the Ballinasloe area, County Galway is a matter in the first instance for the Western Health Board.

Additional funding of £16 million has been provided in 1998 for services to persons with a mental handicap. This includes £7 million for the development of new residential, respite and day care places and £3.75 million to meet identified needs in existing services, £5.25 million capital funding is also being provided in 1998 to begin the implementation of a £30 million capital programme which I have put in place to run over four years in tandem with the service developments identified in An Assessment of Need for Services to Persons with a Mental Handicap 1997-2001.

Recently I approved an allocation of £742,000 to the Western Health Board region for the provision of new residential/respite and day care places in 1998. A further £270,000 has also been allocated in 1998 to the Western Health Board region to meet identified needs in existing services. Details of the precise services to be put in place in the Western Health Board region and the individuals who will benefit from these services will be agreed by the Regional Mental Handicap Co-ordinating Committee in line with the priority needs which have been identified for the region.

Proposals for the expenditure of this additional funding, as agreed by the Regional Co-Ordinating Committee, will shortly be submitted to my Department.