Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

802 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to provide funds to increase the number of places for accommodation and rehabilitation for people with mental illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19634/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley)

In recent years significant additional resources have been committed to developing a comprehensive, community-based mental health service. Approximately €190 million capital is being provided over the lifetime of the national development plan to enable the further provision of acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals and the provision of additional community-based facilities. The number of community residences within the mental health services in 1983 was 111 with less than 1,000 places. By 2002 this had increased to 411 residences with more than 3,146 places.

Over recent years the inspector of mental hospitals has highlighted the need for skilled and dedicated multidisciplinary teams to be provided for patients suffering enduring mental illness. In response to this, five specialist posts at consultant level have been created in the field of rehabilitation psychiatry. Each consultant is supported by a multidisciplinary team. These teams are located in the South Western Area Health Board, Northern Area Health Board, North Eastern Health Board and there are two such teams in the Western Health Board area. The inspector acknowledges this significant advance in his report for the year ended 31 December 2002 which was published recently.

The future direction and delivery of all aspects of our mental health services, including rehabilitation services, will be considered in the context of the work of the recently established expert group on mental health policy. It is expected that the expert group will report within 18 months.