John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 309: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the measures which have been put in place to ensure a coherent treatment programme for eating disorders including both anorexia and bulimia; the provisions which have been made to make sure all relevant personnel are properly trained and qualified in the skills necessary for treating these disorders; the back-up support groups and educational programmes which are in place for sufferers, their families and carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24807/05]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to set up a specialist anorexia unit for children under 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25819/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 436 together.

Responsibility for the management and treatment of a person with an eating disorder rests with the individual patient's clinician. However, persons presenting with eating disorders are generally treated through the local psychiatric services. Outpatient psychiatric services are provided from a network of hospitals, health centres, day hospitals and day centres. Where inpatient treatment is deemed necessary, it is provided in the local psychiatric unit or hospital, beds being allocated on the basis of patient need at any particular time. A tertiary referral service for eating disorders is available to public patients in St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin where three inpatient beds are designated for this purpose.

Bodywhys, the eating disorders association of Ireland was established in 1995 to provide support, information and understanding nationally to people with an eating disorder as well as their families and friends. An information and helpline service is delivered from its central office in Dublin and there are a network of support groups in Carlow, Dublin, Galway and Limerick. In addition, details of weekly on-line support meetings are available on the organisation's website. In 2004, Bodywhys delivered 44 workshops in schools and is due to launch an educational CD, on 10 October 2005, which will target 750 secondary schools throughout the country. All Bodywhys support services are delivered by trained volunteers.

An expert group on mental health policy is currently preparing a new national framework for the further modernisation of the mental health services, updating the 1984 policy document, Planning for the Future. The expert group has a number of sub-groups looking at specialist issues in mental health services, including the development of services and facilities for the treatment of eating disorders. The expert group is expected to complete its work later this year.