Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Health when the review of the model of care for eating disorders will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24140/25]

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I will bring the Minister of State back to the completion of the review of the model of care for eating disorders. Will she make a statement on the matter?

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for this important question. Eating disorders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. The first model of care was devised around 2018. At the time, it was expected that approximately 50 people would present with an eating disorder. In 2024, 562 people were treated through HSE services.

The national clinical programme on eating disorders has progressed well, with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the model of care now funded. Approximately 100 dedicated eating disorder clinicians are working on the teams across the country. Enhancement of eating disorder services is a key priority for me and the Minister. While there has been great progress under the model of care, we cannot stand still. That is why I am progressing the review of the model of care, which has two distinct phases. Phase 1 focuses on adult inpatient services and a review of adult bed capacity for specialist eating disorders beds is under way. The national clinical programme is developing a bed capacity plan with a geographical spread, which is important, based on this review. I expect to receive the plan from the HSE at the end of June.

Phase 2 will involve evaluating the community-based teams and reviewing service level trends over recent years to inform a plan for the future development and expansion of eating disorder services. Originally, it was envisaged we would need 16 teams, 14 of which have been funded this year. However, the clinical lead has already told me that another team will be potentially needed in the Dublin area, such is the growth in population.

I know this review is of keen interest to people with lived and living experience and advocates, many of whom I have met. I will ensure they have an opportunity to input into this review and have their voices heard as we plan for the future enhancement of eating disorder services.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for the update. As she said, it is a complex area. The disease has been misunderstood for years. It affects girls and young women, in particular, in difficult circumstances. We regularly get the opportunity to attend briefings. I attended the Cared Ireland briefing, which was really powerful. It included testimonies from people who have suffered from eating disorders in the past, ongoing sufferers and family members. Everybody here probably has a family member or friend who is suffering or has suffered from an eating disorder.

The statistics the Minister of State set out, the 562 people receiving treatment, speak for themselves. That is the volume of cases.

The Minister of State said she hopes to receive a report on the phase 1 review by the end of June. That will probably involve beds with a regional distribution. I will come back in again.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. He is right that eating orders are complex and individual. They are the mental health illness with the highest mortality rate. Every case is different. I acknowledge the advocacy groups, including Bodywhys and Cared Ireland. They provide enormous support to people with eating disorders and I acknowledge that.

There are currently only three adult eating disorder beds in St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin. As of yesterday, nobody was waiting for a bed, which is unusual. There is normally a waiting list but there was no waiting list yesterday. We are trying to grow the number of beds organically around the country. There are 64 approved centres around the country, including departments of psychiatry. The HSE is considering where we can provide the correct wraparound supports, such as those provided by dieticians, clinicians, social workers and whomever else. We want to know if we can grow beds organically because we believe we have the capacity to do so.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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That is probably the best setting. It is best to do it in a community or distributed setting.

The capital plan will require funding for beds. Does the Minister of State envisage that happening in the short term or will that be a three- to five-year part of the capital plan?

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I hope, with the support of the Minister and Cabinet, to look for funding in the Estimates process when I have the report at the end of June. These premises exist. We will also consider any new approved centres. Five will be rebuilt and we will potentially look at putting some beds in there. We will have to grow this incrementally. Everything we do is incremental because we need dedicated staff. They are dedicated and precise in the work they do. They work with people who are very ill with eating disorders. As I said, dieticians are important. We have learnt a lot in the past six or seven years about the importance of a clinical programme. It is important that we move forward with the lessons we have learned.