§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are maintained by each health and social services board in institutions, and so on, in the Republic of Ireland; what is the name and location of each institution and the total cost to each board for the past five years; what arrangements exist to check the standards of health and welfare of these patients; and why it is necessary to have such patients in the Republic of Ireland.
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§ Mr. AlisonThe information is as follows:
Board Number of patients in Republic at present Total cost April 1974–March 1979*(£O00s) Eastern 25 335.4 Western 6 45.7 Northern 4 27.9 Southern 3 30.6 TOTAL 38 439.6 * These figures cover all patients in the Irish Republic from 1974–79 and not just the 38 in institutions there at present. Institutions involved are:
Moore Abbey, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare
Peamount Hospital, Newcastle, Co. Dublin
St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonasilla, Dublin
St. Mary's Hospital, Drumcar
St. Mary's School for the Blind, Merrion, Dublin
St. Vincent's Centre, Navan Road, Dublin
Stewart's Hospital, Palmerston, Co. Dublin
St. Joseph's Catholic School for the Deaf. Cabra, Dublin
St. Mura's Nursery, Fahan, Co. Donegal
Out of these 38 patients, 36 are mentally handicapped and are nearly all long-term placements admitted to institutions in the Republic before 1976 owing to a shortage of suitable facilities in Northern Ireland. The situation has now improved and only in exceptional conditions would consideration be given to new placements of mentally handicapped patients outside the Province. Those already in such institutions continue to be maintained there only if it is in their best interests.
The remaining two are an elderly and profoundly deaf patient for whom no suitable placement is available in Northern Ireland and a baby in a nursery used by the Western Board only in emergencies for short-stay cases.
Professional officers from the boards visit the institutions concerned regularly.