Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 904: To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary No. 220 of 25 May 2011, if he will make a statement detailing the steps taken to disaggregate mental health and disability services with specialist service providers to create more appropriate care programmes for individuals with learning disability. [23282/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government's policy for the planning and delivery of services to people with disabilities is that they should be given the opportunity to live as full a life as possible and to live with their families, and as part of their communities, for as long as possible. The position in relation to the transfer of people with an intellectual disability currently residing in psychiatric hospitals will be addressed through the HSE's Corporate Plan 2011 – 2014 which is currently being drafted. Closure plans which are currently being developed for large psychiatric hospitals (where there are approximately 277 people with intellectual disability according to the NIDD report of 2009) will include arrangements for the transfer of those individuals to appropriate community residential facilities. An example of these arrangements currently being progressed is St Ita's in Portrane for the transfer of clients from the psychiatric hospital to appropriate community facilities in Knockamann.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 905: To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 25 May 2011, his strategy for individuals with dual diagnosis who require acute psychiatric care that the Health Service Executive has developed in collaboration with voluntary and independent providers; and if he will elaborate on the work that is continuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23283/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Following the publication of A Vision for Change, a Working Group was established by the HSE to consider Mental Health Service Delivery Models and Inpatient Capacity for Persons with Intellectual Disability and Mental Health Problems. This Working Group completed its Report in September 2006.

The strategy outlined in the report was developed in collaboration with specialist healthcare professionals as well as voluntary and independent service providers in the sector. The objective was and still is to more appropriately cater for the specific needs of individuals with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability who also require acute psychiatric care. The strategy involves the provision of regionally based facilities to provide a flexible and effective continuum of care based on need. These include acute, assessment and rehabilitation beds and services, day hospital and respite places.

There is also a significant review on-going at present in relation to the provision of disability services generally which is expected to be concluded by the end of this year and that may provide further input to the way in which the dual diagnosis programme is developed.

Proposals for taking this work forward are currently under discussion between my Department and the relevant Assistant National Directors with responsibility for mental health and disability services in the HSE.