Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank Senator Henry for raising this matter on the Adjournment.

The Central Mental Hospital admits patients from the criminal justice system and also from the psychiatric services under the provisions of the Mental Treatment Act 1945. In addition to in-patient care, the hospital provides a consultative assessment service for the Irish Prisons Service and for hospitals throughout the country. I am informed that the Central Mental Hospital admits approximately 150 patients per year, the majority of whom come from the prison system.

In addition to in-patient services based at the Central Mental Hospital, consultant-led services and out-patient clinics are provided for the Dublin prisons. Additional forensic consultant psychiatric posts have been approved in recent years with a view to extending in-reach services within the prisons in order that only those with severe mental illness and in need of appropriate hospital care will be transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. Providing the in-reach services for prisons should facilitate patient access to services of a quality equivalent to local psychiatric services.