Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased we are having a debate on this topical issue, which has been debated at length in this Chamber. It is good that we are having the debate today.

The Mental Health Commission's report makes for very sombre reading. About an hour ago I read some of the observations made by the commission. I will refer to four. If they do not worry people, then nothing will. The first relates to physical restraint and seclusion. The report states that just 19% of centres were compliant with the relevant code of practice. The second is that 40% of approved centres were non-compliant with the regulations on the need for individual care plans. The third relates to a shortage of mental health staff, which comes under the narrative relating to the retention of staff. Even more worrying is what was said about 24-hour supervision in approved centres for young people. The commission's observation is that the residences are not regulated and leave residents open to the risk of abuse. The report, to say the least, is unbelievably grim. I do not blame the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, personally, because I do not make things personal. The report is very worrying for young people when they access mental health services.

The observations get worse. The report stated that 70% of approved centres were poorly maintained. Some of them were not even fit for purpose and 40% were non-compliant on the need for individual care plans. Something is dramatically wrong if individual care plans are not provided for the young people in the care of the centres. Nearly 84 children and adolescents were admitted to 18 adult units this year. It is quite incredible that this is going on. The levels of compliance and deficits in care are very worrying. The absence of regulation leaves residents open to abuse. The report makes bad reading for young people listening to the debate tonight. As other Members have said, there is a crisis in the health service and in mental health services in this country. In some ways the staff are trying to do their best, but the lack of retention of staff is having a big effect on the delivery of the service.

In my constituency we received two pieces of bad news about mental health services. The adult mental health services in Clondalkin is due to close and to move to Tallaght. To compound that, the Jigsaw youth mental health service in Clondalkin is also to move to Tallaght. Along with other Deputies from the constituency, I indicated that it was a significant mistake to move Jigsaw from Clondalkin. It is a successful service and it does not make sense to move it to a different area. I hope the decision will be reviewed.

A Vision for Change was visionary in some ways, although it was gathering dust for 13 years. It was visionary to state what we need to have in a mental health service that complies with the 21st century. We are nowhere near that. Having read the observations, the onus is on the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to review fully mental health services for young people in this country because the report is damning. It is up to the Government to address it.

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