asked the Minister for Health the provision in the Mental Treatment Acts under which a voluntary patient may be sent to the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin for custodial care for a period of six months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Treatment Acts.
5.
I presume that the Deputy has in mind the new unit for drug abusers in the grounds of the Central Mental Hospital. It is, in effect, a separate institution to which the normal provisions of the Mental Treatment Acts will apply.
Thus a person who wishes to break himself off the drug habit but feels that he has not sufficient will-power to do so unless he is in a security institution may be admitted to the unit as a voluntary patient. If he is so admitted, he will not be able to leave the unit at will but will be required, in accordance with the normal procedure, to give 72 hours notice in writing of his desire to leave. Within that period he will have leisure to reflect on the consequences of leaving and if he is sincere in his wish to break himself off the habit will withdraw his notice in which event he will remain in the unit as a voluntary patient. If he does not withdraw his application he must be discharged.
When the Minister says it is not in Dundrum institution, is it not behind the walls? Is it not within the grounds?
That is correct.
Does the Minister think it was wise to have this unit in the grounds of Dundrum?
I think it was, under the circumstances.
Would he not have thought it would have been possible to provide a unit completely outside and far away from this Dundrum centre because of the danger of the stigma being attached to it?
I wanted to find accommodation as quickly as possible.
I think it was a very unwise move.
Would the Minister not agree that because of the very frightening implications of Dundrum Mental Hospital in the community that there is a grave danger that unless he makes it quite clear that patients cannot be held here against their will, the whole drug problem will be driven underground because people will be afraid to come forward?
I agree with the Deputy that something will have to be done about that by those in charge of public relations in regard to drug treatment in the Eastern Health Board and in the hospitals concerned.
The Minister is telling us that it is really for convenience sake that this arrangement has been made. Can we get an assurance that this is not future Government policy?
There is no Government policy about this. We had to find somewhere where people could be treated.
But it will not be repeated in other parts of the country?
Please Heaven, we shall not have a drugs abuse problem to that extent in other parts of the country.
But if treatment is needed in other parts of the country you will find accommodation other than mental hospitals?
I imagine that every area will be treated on its merits having regard to conditions and the number of persons concerned. I hope there are not people who are taking dangerous drugs in County Donegal to the extent that it is becoming a problem there. I have no information to that effect.
I beg your pardon.
I hope there is not a drug problem in Donegal.
The Minister could look into his own party.
(Interruptions.)
Would Deputy Harte restrain himself?
The drug abuse situation here is serious enough for the Deputy not to start making scandalous jokes about it.
In regard to the Minister's statement about the drug situation being serious, would he be in a position to state when the Report of the Working Party on Drug Abuse will be published?
I expect to issue a summary of the report within the next few weeks, and then the whole of the report will be published. As I have already indicated to the House, the features in the report are not very extensive. They concern largely amendments to legislation and the educational problem. The rest of the report concerns matters on which we already have taken action.
I hope the question of the drug register will be taken into account.
That is part of the report.