Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in. I worked for the Mental Health Commission for nine years, on the tribunals, as a layperson. It was a really great experience for me to see the work of the commission. I commend the commission on the advocacy work it does. I will ask the witnesses my questions and they can then take it in turns to respond to them. I ask them to answer all the questions.

I am not talking about Owenacurra specifically, but when representatives of HIQA recently attended the committee, they said it was time to move on policy and people moving from congregated settings. I was told that HIQA did not map or know where those people went. I know from my experience as a parent and a carer, and the community of parents and carers of which I am a member, that many end up being returned to elderly parents and they go into crisis. In the context of the housing and homelessness crisis that we have, I have a question about the process of decongregation. Ideologically and philosophically, I understand it is the right direction to take, but in the absence of suitable, acceptable placements to the individuals involved and their families, is there a case to be made to pause decongregation until we have a proper, viable alternative? In principle, would the Mental Health Commission consider pausing it?

In Ireland, persons placed in long-term placements with complex needs are often looked after by private organisations, such as Nua Healthcare Services. Does the commission or HIQA have any oversight of those settings?

In light of the Maskey report, does the commission have a view on the Kerry child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, being provided by video link with a doctor in Abu Dhabi? Is that acceptable?

About 50% of my constituents, approximately 35,000 people, live in south County Dublin, and I am asked a recurring question. If one seeks psychiatric services in south County Dublin as opposed to in Galway or Cork, will the services be medication only or is there access to accredited, trained cognitive behavioural therapists, occupational therapists or family therapists?

As a result of the crisis in recruitment and retention of hospital consultants, a problem has been identified in other disciplines where people are being appointed to hospital consultant posts who have no higher specialist training. It is as if I got on an Aer Lingus flight to London and the pilot told me that he has flown a Cessna but is not sure about flying the plane we are in. I do not want to be treated by somebody who has not done the senior registrar higher training scheme. In the case of psychiatrists being appointed to consultant posts, we saw what happened in Kerry CAMHS and other services when people with no higher specialist training were appointed. Does the Mental Health Commission have a view on that?

Does the commission feel that the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland is vocal enough in advocating for psychiatry? I thank the witnesses for their patience and listening to all those questions.