asked the Minister for Health the number of community care nurses employed by the North Western Health Board who are available to give advice in the homes of persons where mentally handicapped adults or children are resident; if he considers that the number available is adequate or satisfactory; and, if not, the number of nurses that would reasonably be required for this purpose.

The North Western Health Board have appointed two public health nurses to provide a counselling service to parents of mentally handicapped children in the Donegal and Sligo-Leitrim areas.

In addition, as part of their general duties, the board's public health nurses would be expected to be involved to a certain extent in counselling the families of disabled persons, including the mentally handicapped. The board are currently considering further training of community care staffs in the field of mental handicap. Services for mentally handicapped persons provided by the board and local voluntary organisations also give advice to the families of the mentally handicapped.

In general, the services available appear to be adequate, but I will be keeping the matter under review.

The Minister stated there are two nurses covering the whole of the North Western Health Board area.

The North Western Health Board have appointed two public health nurses to provide counselling services.

For such a large area two nurses appear to be inadequate. The Minister might consider giving special training to the existing public health nurses so that they, as residents of the community, would be in a position to counsel parents of handicapped children.

I have been very impressed by the efforts of this health board. They have indicated that they have availed of, and intend to develop, further training courses in the field of mental handicap for their community care staff. If the recruitment embargo was lifted — and it will not — they probably would consider appointing more nurses for counselling work.