Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Please let me answer. We now have the nasogastric tube feeding, which is available in the Eist Linn centre in Cork, in the Linn Dara unit and in Merlin Park. Unfortunately, this is a feature associated with an eating disorder, but we do have this provision. For the past six years, we have spent €1 million annually treating some very complex cases abroad. We also spend money every year on supporting adults with eating disorders in private facilities in Ireland. This is a fact. In relation to the beds issue, I had a review undertaken of all mental health bed capacity. It has taken place and is currently under consideration by the HSE. This includes a review of data on eating disorder bed use in the HSE, in the approved centres, and in private placements and treatment abroad.

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