§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many group homes for the mentally ill there are in Northern Ireland; and how many places they provide;
(2) how many group homes for the mentally ill there are in each of the areas covered by the health boards in Northern Ireland; how many places there are in each area; and how many places there are provided in the Belfast, East constituency.
§ Mr. John PattenThere is only one group home for the mentally ill in Northern Ireland. It was established by the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Housing Association Ltd. The facility is situated in the Magherafelt and Cookstown district of the Northern health and social services board and can accommodate up to eight ex-psychiatric hospital patients. The Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health, which is grant-aided by the
Health and Social Services Board Area Number of Premises Number of Places Available Number of Places Occupied Board Private Board Private Board Private Eastern 11 5 147 69 127 69 (4) (1) (70) (14) (63) (14) Northern 3 — 34 — 30 — Southern 2 — 12 — 9 — Western 2 — 24 — 23 — Northern Ireland 18 5 217 69 189 69