asked the Minister for Health which provisions of the 1981 Mental Services Act have not, as yet, been brought into force and the reason why.
Written Answers. - Mental Services Act Provisions.
131.
None of the Health (Mental Services) Act, 1981, has been brought into force for two reasons: (1) Many of the provisions of the Act require the preparation of regulations but in some instances the power to make regulations is defective; (2) The general thrust of the Act has been superceded by developments in the psychiatric services, particularly since the publication of the report "Planning for the Future".
It is intended to provide legislation which will be more in keeping with modern psychiatric practice and which will facilitate the development of a service which is predominantly community based.