Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 7

Written Answers. - Psychiatric Care of Adolescents.

Tom Moffatt

Ceist:

34 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Health the arrangements, if any, being made in the various health board areas regarding the psychiatric care of adolescents in view of the fact that there are no mental health beds for young people up to the age of 18 years in the Southern Health Board and other areas. [6997/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): Mental health services for adolescents are generally provided in association with the child psychiatric services in Child and Family Centres. A family-centred approach is adopted and the vast majority of cases are dealt with on a non-residential basis. If in-patient treatment is required, the young person may be admitted to a residential facility for children and young people, the paediatric department of a general hospital, a psychiatric unit of a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital.

My Department is in discussion with the health boards concerning their priorities for the further development of child and adolescent psychiatry. Some health boards have indicated that residential accommodation for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders is among their priorities and my Department will be pursuing the matter with the boards in question. In the case of the Southern Health Board, I understand that it is currently preparing a development plan for its child and adolescent psychiatric service for submission to my Department.