Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Senator Keogan has not spoken about the amendments we are discussing. She came in to make a point. I would like to make one back, which is that 90% of all eating disorders are best looked after in the community. We have 15 teams in place, 13 of which are resourced and two of which are the subject of recruitment processes. I recently went to Riverside House in south Dublin to open a facility with an adult team and a children’s team colocated. They are multidisciplinary teams, with consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, social workers and advanced nurse practitioners. The Senator can come in here and shout at me that there are no supports, but there are. An eating disorder is the toughest mental health challenge a person can have. The services are outpatient services because 90% of all eating disorders are best dealt with in an outpatient setting. Recovery is very slow and can take up to seven years.In Ireland, we have 51 CAMHS beds for children open at the moment and 22 of them are for eating disorders. I can bring the Senator to Cherry Orchard.