David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of child and adolescent psychiatric diagnostic units in the respective health board areas; the number of psychiatrists working in each of the these units; the number of children and adolescents awaiting assessment in each of these respective units and the longest waiting time in each of these units; her plans to provide additional resources for these units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24006/04]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the length of the child psychiatric waiting list in each health board area for each of the years 2000, 2001, 2003 and to date in 2004. [24156/04]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 228 together.

The majority of child psychiatrists work through a network of clinics. These clinics offer assessment, diagnosis and treatment and provide for the majority of referrals. All health boards have consultant-led multidisciplinary child and adolescent psychiatric teams in place. Since 1997, an extra 19 child and adolescent psychiatric teams have been funded. Nationally, there are now 52 child and adolescent psychiatrists employed.

It is known that these developments have impacted positively on the waiting times for initial psychiatric assessment. However information on the number of children on the waiting list for psychiatric assessment and the waiting times for such assessments is not routinely collected by my Department. There are two psychiatric inpatient units for children and adolescents under 16 years. These are located in Dublin and Galway. Approval was recently given by the Department of Health and Children to the relevant health boards to proceed with the selection of a design team for the new child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient units in Cork, Galway and Limerick. The future direction and delivery of all aspects of our mental health services, including child and adolescent psychiatry, will be considered in the context of the work of the expert group on mental health policy, which is expected to report in 2005.