Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 230:

In page 121, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(f) the duration for which the registration of the centre has effect,”.

I spoke at some length on the previous grouping in relation to the chief inspector and set out some of the background to the existing regulatory regime under the Mental Health Act 2001, the development of the Bill, and the planned inspection of all community mental health services. This group of amendments complements those amendments to the role of the chief inspector and they ensure the following. Amendments Nos. 230 to 232, inclusive, insert new subsections to ensure that the duration of registration is included on the register of acute mental health centres, community mental health centres and community mental health services. We have approximately 1,200 people living in community homes throughout the country - typically of four or five people with enduring mental health conditions with wrap-around supports - but they are not regulated. This is a really important facet of the Bill and one of the first pieces I want to see enacted so we know those people are being well looked after and the premises are fit for purpose.

Amendment No. 233 is a technical amendment to a typographical error.

Amendment No. 234 replaces section 145 with a new section, providing for separate applications required for the operation of more than one registered acute mental health centre or registered community mental health centre by the same person; and where a person proposes to operate more than one registered community mental health service, they may, with the agreement of the commission, make one application for multiple services. This amendment will provide for a more straightforward approach to registering the larger number of services expected in the registered community mental health service category.

Amendments Nos. 235 and 236 insert new subsections to ensure that the Mental Health Commission must visit any acute mental health centre and community mental health centre applying for registration, before granting or refusing registration. They must visit in person. Amendment No. 237 inserts a new subsection 148(2) that provides that the Mental Health Commission may visit any community mental health service applying for registration, before granting or refusing registration. Amendment No. 238 inserts a new subsection that provides that the Mental Health Commission may visit any registered mental health service applying for renewal of registration. Amendment No. 239 ensures that registration of a registered acute mental service can be for no more than three years, rather than every registration period being for three years. This will give flexibility to the commission to register services for shorter periods of time if it has concerns regarding compliance with the provisions of this enactment or regulations made thereunder. That is for no more than three years, as opposed to a period of three years, so it could be a year and a half or two years.

Amendments Nos. 240 and 241 ensure that registration of registered community mental services or registered community mental health services can be for no more than five years, rather than every registration period being for three years. This will give flexibility to the commission to register services for shorter periods of time if it has concerns regarding compliance with the provisions of this enactment or regulations made thereunder.

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