Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Deputies for raising the issue for discussion. The Government has prioritised the reform of mental health services in line with A Vision for Change and is committed, in particular, to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community. To this end, funding of €70 million and 890 posts were provided to develop community mental health services in 2012 and 2013. In budget 2014 the Government again committed to ring-fencing a further €20 million for 250 to 280 posts to be recruited by the end of 2014. This means that despite serious resource pressures overall, funding of €90 million has been made available since 2012, specifically earmarked for new mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.

Acute inpatient admissions of children and adolescents are prescribed in A Vision for Change as being to age appropriate acute in patient units which are approved centres registered with the Mental Health Commission. The provision of inpatient beds is an integral component of the range of services required to appropriately meet the needs of young people. Interventions are provided through community mental health teams in the first instance and, if required, access to the relevant inpatient service is provided. Nationally, inpatient bed capacity has increased from 12 beds in 2007 to 56 at present. There are 16 beds in Dublin, 20 in Cork and 20 in Galway, an increase of 400% in seven years. In 2008, 25% of admissions of children to HSE acute inpatient units were to age appropriate child and adolescent acute inpatient units. By 2013, this had increased to almost 80% of admissions. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, considers - I agree - that this is still not acceptable, nor is it in line with Mental Health Commission regulations which require that all children under 18 years be admitted to age appropriate acute inpatient facilities, except in exceptional circumstances. However, Deputies will agree that significant progress is being made on this matter.

The admission of children and adolescents to age appropriate child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, acute inpatient units reflects best practice and supports better outcomes for individuals. This is a key priority for the HSE and its service plan for 2014 includes a specific quality key performance indicator to ensure the focus remains on meeting this objective. Community child and adolescent mental health teams are the first line of specialist mental health services for children and young people. They provide acute secondary mental health care in the community. The assessment and intervention by such teams are determined by the severity and complexity of the presenting problem. The ring-fenced funding allocations for CAMHS I have outlined allowed for the provision of an additional 230 posts in 2012 and 2013, of which 80% are in place. Recruiting to the remaining posts is ongoing.

The foregoing is proof in real terms of the Government's commitment to the continued development of mental health services for children and adolescents. It is in this context that the Minister of State will examine in detail the report of the Inspectorate of Mental Health Services to determine the scope for further improvements and ensure the HSE can continue to make progress towards achieving the desired best practice as resources permit.

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