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Inca.—Workshops especially tailored to the needs of the psychologically ill, and therapy sessions to help stimulate brain coordination of the mentally handicapped in Inca are to shut down, the President of the District Mentally Handicapped Association Bernat Tomas said yesterday.

More than 70 elderly people who regularly make use of the services will be “out on the street” following an announcement by Inca town council that it can't pay the debts which have built up at the Son Aguilló, Sa Creu and Ses Garrigues day care centres - a million euros - until January next year.

Tomas said that the closures would be staged and that although the day centres provided important auxilary services to sufferers and their families, it was more important that the live-in residences for the mentally handicapped remained fully functional because there are people, without families, who are totally dependent on such institutions.

Tomas also explained the cuts may affect the Joan XXIII Special Education Centre for mentally handicapped children in Inca, and yesterday afternoon called a special meeting for parents. “We want to explain to people's families just what effect these closures will have on their lives,” he said. “The situation is serious.” It is not just the handicapped but the staff at the day care centres and workshops who will also suffer, said Tomas.