Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
514. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the promised mental health Bill will address the registration or regulation of community mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8849/24]
View answerThe Mental Health Bill is being drafted generally in line with the published General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act 2001, and will replace the existing 2001 Act as the Act underpinning our mental health legislation.
One of the key provisions of the published General Scheme, which will be reflected in the Bill itself, is the expansion of the Mental Health Commission's powers to register, inspect, and regulate all mental health services in the community, including both residential and non-residential mental health services. This is in addition to inpatient services, all of which are already regulated by the Commission.
I am pleased to say that the Bill is now in the final months of drafting. My officials will continue to work intensively to finalise the Bill and ready it for publication. The Bill is on the priority for drafting list for the current legislative session, as it was for all three sessions in 2023. It is my firm intention that the Bill will be published in the summer legislative session and I will seek its introduction to the Oireachtas as soon as possible following publication.
