Bernard Allen
Question:583 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the timetable for the implementation of the new Mental Health Act, 2001. [22085/01]
Written Answers. - Mental Health Act, 2001.
Bernard Allen
Question:584 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the parts of the Mental Health Act, 2001, which have been implemented since the Act was signed into law by the President. [22086/01]
Bernard Allen
Question:596 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he proposes to introduce amendments to the Mental Health Act, 2001. [22098/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 583, 584 and 596 together.
The Mental Health Act, 2001, provides for the establishment of an independent body, the Mental Health Commission, which will oversee the review of the detention process. It is hoped to appoint the members of the commission within the next few months.
This Act is designed so that different commencement orders can be made for different parts of the Act. The first priority for the commission will be to put in place the structures required for the operation of the mental health tribunals. The commission will also need to ensure that all patients currently detained will have their cases reviewed by the tribunals within the first six months, as required by section 72 of the Act.
Once the system of review has been successfully established, the commission will be expected to put in place the registration of approved centres, as provided for in Part V of the Act. Section 72 of the Act provides for the temporary registration of existing centres for three years, to allow the commission time to establish the new system. It is expected that the commission will be operational within the next few months and that reviews of detention will commence in early 2003. Registration of approved centres will be put in place by the end of 2004.
I acknowledged during the Oireachtas debates on this Act that there was a need for further legislation in the area of mental health and I indicated that my Department would be examining the issues involved.