Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people with an intellectual disability who are resident in psychiatric hospitals; the proposals in place to move those people to more appropriate accommodation; the time-frame for this to happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20090/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The National Intellectual Disability Database, (NIDD), report for 2007 identified 329 individuals with intellectual disability, all aged 20 years or over, as being accommodated in psychiatric hospitals. It should be noted that registration on the NIDD is voluntary. An integral part of the National Disability Strategy is the Multi-Annual Investment Programme, (MAIP), announced in the 2005 Budget, which provides €900m for the period 2006 to 2009. MAIP contains specific commitments in relation to the provision of specific high priority disability services over the period 2006 to 2009. MAIP commitments include the development of new residential, respite and day places for persons with intellectual disability and autism in each of the years covered by the programme as well as the transfer of persons with intellectual disability/autism from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

The Deputy's specific question in relation to the proposals and time-frame to move those individuals to more appropriate accommodation relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.