Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I share the Deputy's concerns. Politicians on all sides of the House are anxious to try and bring about a situation where the Mental Health Commission will have its powers enhanced. It is free to make inspections and we expect that recommendations made by the Mental Health Commission on foot of any visit to any facility with 24-hour care of some of our most vulnerable patients would be implemented and adhered to. That is a realistic expectation and I believe it will be delivered on.

One recommendation of the review of the Mental Health Act 2001 was that all high, medium and low-support hostels, crisis, respite houses and other residential services, such as day hospitals, day centres and other facilities, in which mental health services are provided would be registered, and to introduce inspection on a phased basis. It was also recommended that the standard should be made by way of regulation, and that regulation should be underpinned by way of primary legislation. The Deputy has commented on the slow pace of the process, but he will appreciate that it is a huge amount of work to enforce all 165 recommendations, most of which require legislative changes to the Mental Health Act 2001, which is a substantive body of work. The challenge is to do that all in one go rather than tampering with the Act on a bit-by-bit basis. The preference is that we would make the changes required in one item of legislation, and that is why it is taking a bit longer. Patience is required on this particular endeavour but I assure the Deputy that I will continue to monitor the progress of the officials in the Department and ensure that priority is afforded to publishing the heads of that Bill before the end of the year.

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