Dáil Éireann - Volume 463 - 26 March, 1996

Written Answers. - Ballinasloe (Galway) Mental Handicap Services.

Miss Harney Miss Harney

109. Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health the current position in relation to the application for funding by Ballinasloe Parent's Group, County Galway, for the provision of services for the mentally handicapped in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6132/96]

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

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. O'Shea): The provision of services to persons with a mental handicap in the Ballinasloe area is a matter in the first instance for the Western Health Board. While the Western Health Board does provide some services, I understand from the board that the principal service providers in the area are the Brothers of Charity Services and the Galway County Association.

Service developments to meet identified priority needs in the Western Health Board region are agreed by the Western Regional Mental Handicap Co-ordinating Committee. This committee is representative of the Western Health Board, Western Care Association, Brothers of Charity Services, Galway County Association and three parent-family representatives nominated by the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland, NAMHI, one of whom is from the Ballinasloe area.

624

The Brothers of Charity Services and [624] the Galway County Association have, in fact, carried out an examination of the needs of persons with a mental handicap in the east Galway area. While these needs have been clearly identified, the provision of alternative locally based services has not to date been among the urgent priority needs as identified by the Regional Mental Handicap Co-ordinating Committee.

It is my intention, on completion of the validation process in respect of the national mental handicap database later this year, to initiate a review of the implementation of both policy documents, Needs and Abilities and Services to Persons with Autism, with a view to preparing an overall medium term development plan for the services. The development of services in the Ballinasloe area, including the provision of locally based day and residential services, will be incorporated in the plan which is being prepared by the Western Regional Mental Handicap Co-ordinating Committee and which will be submitted by the Western Health Board to my Department.

Dáil Éireann 463 Written Answers. Ballinasloe (Galway) Mental Handicap Services.

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