Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I will be taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and I thank Deputy Broughan for raising it as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on the current position in the development of mental health services in north Dublin.

The Mental Health Commission has attached a condition to the registration of St. Ita's Hospital which requires the closure of the existing male and female acute units by 31 August. Officials and clinicians from north Dublin mental health services had meetings with the commission regarding requirements to address this condition, and a plan involving the refurbishment of part of an existing building at the hospital was developed as an interim solution pending the completion of the proposed new acute psychiatric unit at Beaumont Hospital. The refurbishment work has not yet been undertaken and I understand the HSE is in discussions with the commission with a view to agreeing alternative arrangements for patients. The HSE has, however, assured the Minister that access to appropriate acute mental health services will continue to be provided for the people of north Dublin beyond 31 August 2011.

With regard to the new acute psychiatric unit at Beaumont Hospital, the position is that the contract has been awarded and an application for planning permission has been submitted. The Minister is hopeful that construction will commence in the last quarter of 2011.

Traditionally adult mental health services were responsible for the 16 to 17 year old age group and admissions to approved centres in that age group were to adult facilities. However, the Mental Health Act 2001 amended the definition of a child to include 16 and 17 year olds, and A Vision for Change subsequently recommended that the child and adolescent mental health service should provide services to all children up to the age of 18 years. Thus, in the context of the implementation of A Vision for Change, the HSE is required to reconfigure resources and to remodel psychiatric services to ensure 16 and 17 year olds are treated by the child and adolescent service. Currently, transitional arrangements apply for services for children in this age group, as resources are redirected from the adult service to the child and adolescent service.

At present, the community adult mental health services in HSE North Dublin provide out-patient services to 16 and 17 year olds, while the Mater child and adolescent mental health services provide the service for young persons up to 16. This arrangement will continue until the services provided by the Mater are developed in line with A Vision for Change.

There are currently 61 child and adolescent mental health teams nationally, of which 56 are community based. Further teams will be developed in line with the recommendations of A Vision for Change and in this regard I would like to draw the attention of the House to the commitment in the programme for Government to ringfence €35 million annually from within the health budget to develop community mental health teams and services to ensure early access to more appropriate services both for adults and children.

In-patient psychiatric services for adolescents in north Dublin are provided at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview and at Warrenstown for children up to 16 years. I am pleased to say that work is due to commence later this year on the second phase of the child and adolescent unit at Fairview, which will increase capacity from six to 12 beds. It is also proposed to provide an eight-bed interim facility in St. Loman's, Palmerstown, pending the proposed development of a purpose built 22-bed child and adolescent unit in Cherry Orchard.

I again thank Deputy Broughan for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to allay any concerns regarding the provision of mental health services in north Dublin. The House can be assured of the ongoing commitment of this Government to the development of mental health services in line with A Vision for Change.

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