Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that. It is one of those things that falls between a couple of stools. There is not a debate in this Chamber where mental health is not mentioned. There is not a decision made at the Cabinet table, good, bad or indifferent, that does not have an impact on people's mental health. Good decisions will impact people mentally and bad decisions will have an adverse effect. When I was thinking about this earlier, I wondered where this debate could go. We could bring in health, justice, social protection, education and housing. The reasons people end up in the judicial system go right across the spectrum, so a cross-departmental approach is worth looking into.

I did not see this mentioned in the report but there is a service within the prison system called the community prisons links programme. Workers are sent in to help people who have addiction issues and mental health issues or a dual diagnosis. It is like what the Minister of State was calling for, where they make sure that when people leave, their payments are set up, they have somewhere to go and have their basic needs met so they are less likely to reoffend and go back in. Maybe that is something that could be expanded as part of the report.

On the report itself, prisoners and those in the community who have a forensic history must have the same access to quality mental healthcare as the general population. That needs to be a must as part of the report. The report also stated the commission welcomed the pilot crisis intervention team that is going to be rolled out in Limerick. I am looking forward to it. It could be a game changer in access to 24-7 emergency mental healthcare. Is that still on track for early next year? Will the Minister of State give me an update on what it will entail? I also ask her to elaborate on this cross-departmental approach between the Departments of Justice and Health.

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