72 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric patients who are currently accommodated in the community in hostels on day care support who heretofore would have had to avail of institutionalised psychiatric hospital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

On 31 December 1990 there were 1,959 psychiatric patients being accommodated in 295 community residences who would heretofore have been accommodated in psychiatric hospitals.

I consider the growth in the number of psychiatric patients living in community residences from 900 in 1984 to the current level to be a significant achievement in the development of a service for the mentally ill based on the recommendations of the 1984 report, Planning for the Future.