Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 3

Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.

Dan Neville

Question:

342 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on Amnesty International's assertion in its September 2003 report, Mental Illness: The Neglected Quarter - Children, that more should be done and more speedily for Ireland's children. [22805/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley)

A working group on child and adolescent psychiatry was established by the Minister for Health and Children in June 2000 to make recommendations on how child and adolescent psychiatric services should be developed in the short, medium and long term to meet identified needs. The first report of the working group was published in March 2001 and recommended the enhancement and expansion of the overall child and adolescent psychiatric service, including the recruitment of additional consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists.

Additional revenue funding of €6.061 million was allocated in 2002 to provide for the appointment of additional consultants for the enhancement of existing consultant-led multidisciplinary teams and towards the establishment of further teams. A further €1.64 million was allocated in 2003. It is envisaged that these developments will have an impact on the waiting times for initial psychiatric assessment in the relevant health board areas.

The first report also recommended that a total of seven child and adolescent in-patient psychiatric units for children ranging from six to 16 years should be developed throughout the country. Project teams have been established to develop child and adolescent in-patient psychiatric units in Cork, Limerick, Galway and in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview.

The second report of the working group on child and adolescent psychiatry, published in June 2003, contains proposals for the development of psychiatric services for 16 to 18 year olds. It recommends that, in the further development of the child and adolescent psychiatric service, priority should be given to the recruitment in each health board area of a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with a special interest in the psychiatric disorders of later adolescence.

Further implementation of the recommendations of the reports of the working group on child and adolescent psychiatry will be considered in the context of the Estimates process for 2004 and subsequent years. The future direction and delivery of all aspects of our mental health services, including child and adolescent psychiatry, will be considered in the context of the work of the recently established expert group on mental health policy. It is expected that the expert group will report within 18 months.

Dan Neville

Question:

343 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if the proportion of the next health budget allocated to mental health will not be further eroded, as has been the case year-on-year for decades; and if adequate financial provision will be made for planned and sorely needed improvements in the mental health services. [22806/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley)

Funding for mental health services will be considered in the context of the overall Estimates process for 2004 and subsequent years.