Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
775 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if services are provided under the aegis of his Department to persons with mental health difficulties; if for the purposes of any such services persons with mental health difficulties are regarded as children until the age of 16 and as adults thereafter; if he will ensure that the age of adulthood in all such ages is set at 18 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21548/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory responsibility for the provision of services to people with mental health difficulties rests with the health boards.
The Mental Treatment Act 1945 applies to persons aged 16 and over. Reflecting this legal position, adult mental health services have traditionally dealt with patients from the age of 16. As a consequence, mental health services for children, where they developed, cared for patients up to their 16th birthday. However, the Mental Health Act 2001 defines a child as a person under 18 years of age. Therefore the legal age of adulthood for mental health services will become 18 when the provisions of that Act are fully commenced. It is expected that the Act will be commenced in 2005.
