47 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the north side of Dublin has the biggest waiting list in Ireland in terms of residential care; and the urgent proposals, if any, he has for this region. [10040/97]

I am presuming that the Deputy is referring to the waiting list for residential care within the mental handicap services.

Information on the geographical distribution of un-met need for services is available to the Eastern Health Board through its regional intellectual disability database.

Details of how the development moneys, £2.475 million for additional residential-respite places and day care places in 1997, are distributed in the area is a matter to be agreed by the mental handicap central planning committee, based on the priority needs identified. The committee is representative of the Eastern Health Board, the voluntary service providers and parents and families of persons with a mental handicap in the Eastern Health Board area.