Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provisions are made for residential care and treatment for drug and alcohol misuse under the new community care arrangements to be introduced in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyFrom April 1993 the needs of drug and alcohol misusers in Northern Ireland will be met through revised community care arrangements. Health and social services boards will be responsible for assessing individual needs and for arranging appropriate care, including residential care, to meet that need. All care costs will be met from a board managed budget which will include the social security resources which would have been used to support people entering residential accommodation under existing arrangements. Services available to alcohol and drug misusers will not therefore be diminished as a result of the new arrangements for community care.