Mark Ward
Question:648. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if his Department has sanctioned additional funding for increased authorised officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56112/21]
View answerTuesday, 16 November 2021
Questions (648, 650)
Mark Ward
Question:650. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the engagement that has taken place with the HSE regarding recruiting authorised officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56114/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 and 650 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, a General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act was approved by Government on 13 July and is available on the Department of Health's website at gov.ie - Draft Heads of a bill to amend the Mental Health Act 2001 (www.gov.ie).
The publication of the General Scheme follows a review of the Mental Health Act which took account of the 165 recommendations of an Expert Group Review of the Act that were published in 2015, along with extensive consultation with the HSE, the Mental Health Commission and other key stakeholders, and a public consultation in March/April 2021.
Proposed amendments to Section 9 in the General Scheme provide for changes to who may make an application for involuntary admission and would allow only ‘Authorised Officers’ to make an application. The proposed changes were recommended by the Expert Group and included in the current Programme for Government.
The intention of these changes is to strengthen the safeguards on involuntary detention, to uphold the rights of the individual to autonomy and to make their own decisions about their care and treatment as much as possible, and to ensure an holistic view of the individual is taken before an application for involuntary detention is made.
Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Mental Health began on 2nd November. The draft heads have been sent to Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) for the drafting of the Bill. Department of Health officials will continue to work with the sub-Committee and the OPC to ready the Bill for introduction to the Oireachtas as soon as possible.
Some of the legislative changes proposed in the General Scheme, such as the expansion of the Authorised Officer role, will have a direct impact on resources. Resources will also be required for the hiring of new Authorised Officers, training for new and existing staff, and information to be provided to members of the public about the new provisions in the updated Act prior to its commencement.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, in relation to the recruitment and cost of additional Authorised Officers.