65 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the problems associated with patients who have dual diagnosis in relation to the psychiatric service, that is, patients who present with a psychiatric condition and behavioural disorder condition where treatment provided by health boards may not be voluntarily entered into by this person who requires help; if any of the health boards have reported an increase in dual diagnosis; if his Department has considered an appropriate response to this recent phenomena; his views on whether the problem of dual diagnosis frequently results in persons becoming homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4900/00]
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Service.
Patients who present with behaviour problems as a consequence of their mental illness are treated as appropriate by the health board mental health services. The recent increase in substance abuse in persons suffering from a mental illness has added to the problem of dual diagnosis, but in all such cases the mental illness is treated by the mental health services and such persons are referred to appropriate health agencies for their substance abuse problems.
While some people with substance abuse problems undoubtedly, become homeless, I am not aware of any evidence to indicate that mentally ill persons with associated substance abuse frequently become homeless. I might add that the Eastern Health Board is developing a range of services for homeless people. It operates a residential unit for the homeless mentally ill in St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman, together with a day service at Usher's Island, Dublin. A specialised outreach service for this group of people, working closely with voluntary agencies, is also provided by the board and additional funding of £130,000 was provided by my Department this year to develop a consultant led psychiatric team to work specifically with the homeless.