Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 February 2024
197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will act on the first recommendation of the Mental Health Commission’s final report on CAMHS which calls for the immediate and independent regulation of CAMHS by the Mental Health Commission; if he intends to provide for this regulation in the new Mental Health Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9708/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecommendation 1 of the Mental Health Commission report, referenced by the Deputy, relates to the immediate and independent regulation of CAMHS by the Mental Health Commission. The intention of this recommendation is to ensure that all children have access to evidence-based and safe services, regardless of geographical location or ability to pay.
I support the regulation of all mental health services, including community CAMHS, and I am progressing legislation to underpin this regulation.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring all mental health services, both inpatient and community, and both adult and child and adolescent, are fully registered, regulated, and inspected by the Mental Health Commission in its role as the independent regulator of mental health services.
Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the Mental Health Commission registers, inspects, and regulates all inpatient mental health services, including inpatient CAMHS. The current Mental Health Act 2001 does not include any provisions for the registration or regulation of community mental health services and therefore, it is not considered that the Act provides the necessary legal basis to expand the Commission’s regulatory remit.
The expansion of the Mental Health Commission’s role into regulating all community mental health services, including community CAMHS, is being addressed in the forthcoming Mental Health Bill. This new Bill is a complex and lengthy piece of legislation. It will provide the necessary legal underpinning to ensure that the Mental Health Commission can regulate all community services. Additionally, the Bill will overhaul the involuntary admission and detention process, modernise provisions related to consent to treatment, provide enhanced safeguards for people accessing inpatient treatment, and provide a new, discrete Part that relates exclusively to the care and treatment of children and young people.
Drafting of this Bill has been prioritised and it is now in its final months of drafting. It will be introduced to the Oireachtas in the summer legislative session, which begins in April.
