Eastern Health Board mental handicap funding
Barry reported that total mental handicap services expenditure rose from £4.1 million in 1975 to £4.8 million in 1976. He maintained that planning was not being stopped, but projects could proceed only when funding became available.
asked the Minister for Health the amount of moneys made available to the Eastern Health Board in the current financial year for the mentally handicapped as compared to last year; and if he is aware of the inadequate provision of moneys for the area of mentally handicapped generally.
Comment on this
The amount expended by or on behalf of the board for the mentally handicapped was £2.6 million in 1975 and £3 million in 1976.
The board, in the years in question, also incurred expenditure on the provision of accommodation in its psychiatric hospitals for about 800 adults and children. No separate figures are available for the amount of expenditure involved. It is estimated, however, to be of the order of £1.5 million in 1975 and £1.8 million in 1976.
The total expenditure on mental handicap services thus increased from £4.1 million in 1975 to £4.8 million in 1976.
I do not accept that there has been an inadequate provision of finance for the mental handicap services generally. There has been a progressive expansion of these services over the years and this is reflected in the growth of expenditure on them. In 1966-67 it was about £3 million for the entire country. For 1976 it is estimated that the total expenditure will have increased to £19 million.
Comment on this
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us some estimate of the decrease in the value of money between 1966 and 1976?
Comment on this
The reply he gave us to that question is totally unrelated to those he gave us in previous questions. If the money is so adequate, why can the building and planning programmes not continue? On the one hand, he says there is no money and then on the other hand he says there is so much money——
Comment on this
I said already that there is no lack of planning provision, that it is only a question of proceeding when money becomes available. I have been straight, like the Minister, in saying the money is not available.