Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

On the development of inpatient facilities, psychiatric bed capacity for children and adolescents has increased from 12 in 2007 to 44 at present, comprising 12 beds in Dublin, 12 in Cork and 20 in Galway, with a further eight beds planned to be commissioned in Cork during 2012. Additional beds will also be provided in the Dublin region. Work has already begun on the second phase of the child and adolescent unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, which will increase capacity from six to 12 beds. In addition, the Health Service Executive's service plan for 2012 commits to the development of an eight bed inpatient facility for adolescents at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown. A new child and adolescent day hospital will also open in Dublin shortly. It is envisaged that the provision of improved community-based services, coupled with the increase in bed capacity, will bring an end to the practice of placing children and adolescents in adult psychiatric facilities which is completely unacceptable in this day and age.

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