The South Eastern Health Board has launched the Physical and Sensory Disability Database for the South East. 

The project was launched at a reception in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, on Tuesday, 16^th April 2002.

The database will result in the gathering of information from people who have an ongoing disabling condition that is physical or sensory in nature, are less than 66 years old, and currently receive or will require, within the next five years, a specialised health and personal social service.

The database was launched nationally in March by the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin. Its overall objective is to provide a picture of the specialised health and personal social service needs of people with a physical or sensory disability.

The database will monitor current service provision and future service requirements over a five year period and will be used for planning service developments, prioritising service needs and assisting in resource allocation decisions at national, regional and local level.

The South Eastern Health Board formed a Regional Database Committee to oversee the project. Members of the committee include:

• Ann Kennelly, Regional Coordinator for Disability Services

• Winnifred Ryan, Resource Officer, SEHB

• Jackie Purcell, Database Administrator, SEHB

• Carol Moore, Areas Coordinator for Disability Services

• Dr. Beth Ann Roche, Department of Public Health, SEHB

• Elaine Bowe, Senior Occupational Therapist

• Fiona Hegarty, Senior Speech and Language Therapist

• Roisin Kiely, Senior Physiotherapist

• Richard Frank, National Association for the Deaf

• Sinead Foskin, Irish Wheelchair Association

• Anna Willians, National Council for the Blind

• Rosa Gardiner, Director of Public Health Nursing, South Tipperary

• Kenneth Kilduff, Gorey, Co. Wexford

• Tom Power, Council for Disabilities Ireland.

The South Eastern Health Board will be making every effort to contact people who meet the criteria and to invite them to participate.

An information leaflet, Planning Services for People with Disabilities: A Guide to the Physical and Sensory Disability Database, is available from your local Community Care Centre.

For further information please contact:

Siobhain O'Hanlon, NPSDD Resource Officer, Waterford Community Care Centre, Cork Road, Waterford. Telephone: 051 842970. E. Mail: ohanlons@sehb.ie.

Patricia Hanton, NPSDD Resource Officer, Wexford Community Care, Upper George's Street, Wexford. Telephone: 053 23522 ext. 343 or 360. 
E. Mail: hantonp@sehb.ie

Lilian Barry, NPSDD Resource Officer, Carlow/Kilkenny Community Care, Dean Street, Kilkenny. Telephone: 056 7770139. E. Mail: barryl@sehb.ie