Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The final report of the expert group established to review the Mental Health Act 2001 has been completed and presented to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, for consideration. The Deputy is correct that the programme for Government contained a commitment to review the Act of 2001. The review was to be informed by human rights standards and carried out in consultation with users, carers and other personnel based on a two-phase approach. The first phase involved a steering group which produced a well received interim report in June 2012. An expert group was then established in August 2012 to examine the steering group's recommendations. It completed its report in December 2014 which it presented to the Minister of State.

The figure of 750 mentioned by Deputy Dessie Ellis refers to the number of nurses who will be eligible to leave the health service on retirement this year. While many may choose to do so, we do not yet know what the final figure will be. The Health Service Executive is looking at the projections to fill these places. Perhaps nurses who trained here and have expertise in mental health services might return from abroad. I suggest the Deputy submit to the Ceann Comhairle a request to discuss this matter in the Topical Issue debate for the purpose of eliciting further information in a few weeks time.

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