asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons (a) male and (b) female in the Central Mental Hospital in December, 1950 and December, 1960, and at the most recent date for which figures are available.
4.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Mental Hospital.
3.
asked the Minister for Health the number of patients at present detamed in the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin.
5.
asked the Minister for Health the number of (a) psychologists, (b) psychiatric social workers, (c) psychiatrically trained nurses, (d) general trained nurses and (e) psychiatrists with specialist training in forensic psychiatry specifically appointed full-time to care for persons under care and custody in the Central Mental Hospital.
6.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons transferred to the Central Mental Hospital from local psychiatric hospitals; and whether such patients were transferred to the Central Mental Hospital following a court, judicial or other order.
7.
asked the Minister for Health which, if any, of the recommendations of the Commission on Mental Illness concerning the deficiencies they found at the Central Mental Hospital have been put into operation at the hospital.
8.
asked the Minister for Health whether the professional services available at the Central Mental Hospital are considered superior in the case of a person detained under a judicial order on a non-capital charge to those available in the general services of the Dublin Health Authority general psychiatric service.
9.
asked the Minister for Health whether persons under care for drug addiction at the Central Mental Hospital will be there in a voluntary or in a temporary (forcibly detained) capacity.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 9 together.
At 31st December, 1950 there were 85 male and 12 female patients in the Central Mental Hospital; at 31st December, 1960 the numbers were 81 males and seven females and on last Friday there were 106 males and 30 female patients in the hospital.
Fifty-five of the present hospital population of 136 in the Central Mental Hospital have been transferred there from district mental hospitals by order of the Minister for Health under the powers conferred on him by section 207 of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945. Action in such cases rests with the Minister for Health following a special court hearing in a district mental hospital on a patient charged with an indictable offence and where, in the opinion of the justice, there is prima facie evidence that the person charged has committed the offence and if placed on trial would be unfit to plead. The justice in such circumstances certifies that such person is suitable for transfer to the Central Mental Hospital and following consideration of a report from the inspector of mental hospitals on the mental condition of the patient the Minister decides whether to make an order transferring the patient.
Provision has been made in the recently enacted Health Act, 1970, which will permit of the transfer of the administration of the Central Mental Hospital to the new Eastern Health Board. This transfer will, it is expected, take place next year when the Eastern Health Board get under way. This arrangement will facilitate the staffing of the Central Mental Hospital and its development along the lines recommended by the Commission of Inquiry on Mental Illness. To this end, Dublin Health Authority is already in the process of recruiting a clinical director in forensic psychiatry. The question of transferring homicidal and very violent patients from district mental hospitals to the Central Mental Hospital as a result of medical certification rather than as a result of judicial procedure is a matter that will be considered in forthcoming amending legislation of the Mental Treatment Acts.
The Central Mental Hospital at present has three full-time officers. All are qualified psychiatrists but none has specialist training in forensic psychiatry. The head male nurse is a qualified psychiatric nurse and the matron has both psychiatric and general nurse qualifications. There is no psychiatric social worker employed. The hospital engages a psychologist on a consultant basis as and when required. As I mentioned earlier, the taking over of the administration of the Central Mental Hospital by the Eastern Health Board will facilitate the staffing of the hospital.
It is not possible to give a general opinion on comparability of the services in the Central Mental Hospital with those of the local authority psychiatric services. The Commission of Inquiry on Mental Illness expressed the opinion that a district mental hospital, in most cases, is not a suitable place for a patient, if for reasons other than the type and degree of his mental illness it is expedient that he should be kept in confinement. The commission recommended that the Central Mental Hospital should be retained as a special hospital for certain patients. I accept the need for a centre such as the Central Mental Hospital and the question of whether a particular individual can be better treated in the Central Mental Hospital or in a district mental hospital, has to be determined on an individual basis.
It is intended that the unit for the treatment of drug addicts in the grounds of the Central Mental Hospital will deal mainly with detained patients but provision for voluntary patients will also be made. The unit will be separate from the Central Mental Hospital proper and will be operated by the Dublin Health Authority until such time as the Eastern Health Board take over their functions. The Dublin Health Authority will at the same time also operate a centre in its new premises at Ushers Island which will deal with the treatment of drug addicts who can be treated in a more open environment.
Is it not clear from the Minister's answer that the facilities available at the Central Mental Hospital, without any disrespect to the personnel there, are not as satisfactory as the facilities at the Dublin Health Authority institution at St. Brendan's? Is it not a fact that this Central Mental Hospital was criticised as far back as 1966 for deficiencies in these treatment facilities? Is it not also a fact that no significant change has taken place in relation to these treatment facilities? Is it not a fact that the hospital was established as, and still is, an institution which is concerned not with the treatment or care of these people but with the segregation of persons who have committed serious offences? Is it not further a fact that a person who is transferred from Mountjoy to this hospital becomes labelled as a criminal lunatic? In these circumstances, would the Minister not inquire into the circumstances surrounding the transfer of young Dolphin to the Central Mental Hospital where it is by many people believed he has been transferred because of his dissident political views and not——
I understand that that particular case is sub judice and cannot be discussed in this context.
Is the Minister aware that there is very serious public disquiet that this particular individual who is acting in a very honourable tradition of refusing to recognise the institutions of this State, an attitude which is a long time in existence in Irish history— there is a possibility that——
Will Deputy Browne please listen? This matter is, I understand, sub judice and cannot be discussed in the House. It would be irregular.
Would the Minister permit this young man's friends to visit him? Would he permit a legal adviser to visit this young man so that he may accept legal advice or be advised as to his legal rights in these circumstances?
This matter is sub judice. I am advised that the said person is being properly looked after and should have been transferred. However, I do not propose to say anything else about it because the case is sub judice. In regard to the rest of the Deputy's questions. I have admitted that we still have to make progress with the redevelopment of the Central Mental Hospital and that we can do this when it comes under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Health Board because it will be possible—it is possible—to have psychiatric staff on a basis of being given periods of employment in this hospital. There must be a good deal of custodial care; so, the staff employed on purely custodial care is of a different variety from that which could be employed if the hospital were linked with the Eastern Health Board and the Dublin Health Authority Mental Hospital. We still have to appoint a clinical director of forensic psychiatry. We have not yet implemented the whole of the proposals in the mental illness report. I have given a clear picture of the progress we are making—which is as rapid as I hope, under the circumstances——
Is the Minister not simply substantiating the case I have made, namely, that this young man is being treated in substandard conditions——
This matter cannot be discussed. Order.
Is it not a fact that custodial care is available in the Dublin Health Authority institution, St. Brendan's?
Is it not a fact that a travesty of justice took place some months ago in the same circumstances as those to which Deputy Browne refers where a girl of 18 was sent there from Mountjoy for smashing a pane of glass?
That is a separate question. Will the Deputy please resume his seat? It does not arise on the questions before the House.
Is it not a fact that the person to whom Deputy Browne referred is being kept there? This man is being detained illegally. The evidence is there where——
He is being detained there for simply refusing to recognise the institutions of this State—for doing just as the Taoiseach proposes to do in regard to the Offences Against the State Act——
I am calling the next question.
They have committed this young man to the Central Mental Hospital on the grounds of immature personality. That is the only evidence——
The next question, please.