Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 May 2016
294. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a national advocacy service for mental health clients under 18 years of age and any expected funding this service might require. [12101/16]
View answerThe Expert Group Review of the Mental Health Act 2001, which was published in 2015, recognises that children and adolescents detained under the Mental Health Act 2001 are in a particularly vulnerable situation and that it is appropriate that they be given every support. On that basis the Group members recommend that children, their families and/or guardians should have advocacy services available to them. This recommendation, like all others in the Report, is being examined in the context of the preparation of the General Scheme of an amending Bill which is underway at present.
