Vol. 505 No. 1
165 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he agrees with an organisation (details supplied) in County Dublin that the allocation of £252,500 to cover south east Dublin and east Wicklow regions for provision of ser vices for people with learning disabilities is inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13137/99]
Since my appointment as Minister for Health and Children, and despite the many competing demands which are made on the resources available to my Department, I have consistently identified as one of my priorities the provision of the additional residential, respite and day services outlined in the document, Services to Persons with a Mental Handicap – An Assessment of Need 1997-2001. This year I was pleased to be in a position to provide additional funding of £12 million, with a full year cost of £18 million in 2000, for the further development of new services in line with the needs identified in the assessment of need document. At least £10 million capital funding from the national capital programme will also be allocated to support the development of these new services.
From the additional revenue funding, £3.635 million has been allocated to the Eastern Health Board, with a full year cost of £4.61 million in 2000. Details of the precise services to be put in place in the eastern region from this additional funding, including services in south east Dublin and east Wicklow, and the individuals who will benefit from these services, are agreed by the Central Mental Handicap Planning Committee. This committee is representative of the Eastern Health Board, the voluntary mental handicap service providers and parents-families of persons with a mental handicap.
As a result of this committee's deliberative process, I understand that services in the south Dublin and Wicklow area are to receive additional funding of £585,000 in respect of 21 new residential-respite places and an initial allocation of £310,000 in respect of 31 day places. While the funding for day places has been allocated to the various agencies, the final position regarding the overall number of day places which are to be put in place in 1999 is still under discussion. I understand from the board that these proposals are to include St. John of God Services, Cheeverstown House, Stewart's Hospital and Sunbeam House.
In addition to the funding mentioned above, £1 million has also been set aside by the Eastern Health Board for the management of emergency cases which will arise during the year. This will give the board flexibility in dealing with crisis situations as the need arises.
