James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I join other Senators in welcoming the Minister of State to the House and in complimenting the Inspector of Mental Hospitals on his excellent report. It is of the utmost importance that the Inspector of Mental Hospitals has a statutory obligation to inspect all psychiatric hospitals and units throughout the State. In my view, a yearly inspection is not adequate; there should be two inspections a year. The report has dealt in great detail with the extent and quality of the services under various headings, including community mental health care and day hospital activity; day centre activity; rehabilitation, residential, community placement and recovery services and acute in-patient home care programmes.