A Vision for Change- the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy which was published in 2006 and will be implemented over a 7 to 10 year period, recommends that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) should be provided for all children up to the age of 18; traditionally CAMHS were provided up to the age of 16 years.
The development of mental health services for children and young people is therefore a priority area for development and during 2009, the HSE established additional CAMHS teams and almost doubled its mental health bed capacity for children and adolescents , bringing the total number of in-patient beds to 30. In addition, two 20 bedded units are currently under construction at Bessboro, Cork and Merlin Park, Galway. Further inpatient capacity will be provided, as necessary, in the context of the HSE Mental Health Capital Programme. Budget 2010 provided for a multi-annual programme of capital investment in high priority mental health projects consistent with ‘A Vision for Change’ to be funded from future disposals. In 2010, the HSE may proceed to dispose of surplus assets and reinvest an initial sum of €43m in the Mental Health Capital Programme. Provision for continued funding of the programme will be made in the 2011 Estimates and subsequent years, in the light of the previous year’s programme of asset sales.