The mentally handicapped were among the major beneficiaries of yesterday's Budget, with a £28 million (€35 million) allocation kick-starting an investment scheme to eliminate the waiting list for essential services within three years.
More than 3,300 mentally handicapped people are awaiting a variety of residential care, day care, respite or other services. More than one in five are not currently receiving any service. Waiting lists for essential residential services have trebled in the last 10 years and are growing by 20 per cent annually.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Cowen, last night vowed to address the issue and resolve it by the end of 2002. The Budget allocation would be part of an £80 million investment which would mean the needs of the mentally handicapped were fully met within three years, he said. Capital funding of £30 million in a full year would be made available in 2000, followed by £40 million in 2001 and £10 million in 2002. This year's funding would provide 555 new residential places, 185 new respite places and 700 new day places. It would also provide health-related support services for people with autism and the continuation of a programme to transfer persons with an intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.
Mr Cowen said if he was to be remembered for any achievement during his tenure as Minister, he wanted to be remembered as the person who put in the place the structure to meet the needs of the intellectually disabled.
The investment programme was warmly welcomed last night by the secretary of the National Parents and Siblings Alliance, Ms Karen Canning. The alliance had lobbied the Minister to provide £75 million over two years, but he promised to tackle the issue over three years, and resolve 85 per cent of the services' shortfall within two years. The Minister also announced additional revenue funding of £14 million for those with physical and sensory disabilities. Some £7 million would be provided next year and the balance in 2001.
Another key feature of yesterday's Budget was the £132 million generated by the 50p increase on excise duties on cigarettes which would be used by the Department of Health and Children.
Tobacco excise revenues would be used next year to fund investment in cardiac infrastructure, cancer services, breast screening, palliative care, cervical screening, and the prevention and treatment of other smoking-related illnesses.
The Budget will provide £12 million this year - £24 million in a full year - to start the national cardiovascular strategy. Mr Cowen said £70 million would be spent in the first three years and it would cost £150 million to implement the report's 211 recommendations.