Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004
103 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the recent concerns expressed by the Children’s Ombudsman that the practice of admitting children into adult psychiatric hospitals may be in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; the steps she intends to take to provide appropriate separate treatment for such children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31573/04]
View answerI am aware of the concerns expressed by the Children's Ombudsman concerning the practice of admitting children to adult psychiatric units. I accept that the placement of children with mental health problems in adult facilities is inappropriate.
The first report of the Working Group on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommended that a total of seven child and adolescent inpatient 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 one in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview. My Department recently gave approval to tender for design teams for the units in Cork, Limerick and Galway. Inpatient services for children and adolescents are provided at Warrenstown House, Dublin and at St. Anne's in Galway.
The Working Group on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also recommended the enhancement and expansion of the overall child and adolescent psychiatric services as the most effective means of providing the required service for children with mental illness. This has been a priority for my Department in recent years. Since 1997, additional funding of almost €19 million has been provided to allow for the appointment of additional consultants in child and adolescent psychiatry, for the enhancement of existing consultant-led multidisciplinary teams and towards the establishment of further teams. This has resulted in the funding of a further 19 child and adolescent consultant psychiatrists. Nationally, there are 52 such psychiatrists employed.
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 expert group on mental health policy which is due to report in 2005.
