Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that suicidal children are ending up in adult psychiatric wards; her plans for the provision of psychiatric services for young persons, especially those at community level; if eating disorders will be considered under the new Disability Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28802/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am aware of concerns expressed regarding the practice of admitting children to adult psychiatric units. I accept that the placement of children with mental health problems in adult facilities is inappropriate.

The first report of the working group on child and adolescent psychiatry, recommended that a total of seven child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric units for children ranging from six to 16 years should be developed throughout the country. Project teams have been established to develop child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric units in Cork, Limerick, Galway and one in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview. Approval to tender for design teams for the units in Cork, Limerick and Galway has been granted by my Department. At present, inpatient services for children and adolescents are provided at Warrenstown House, Dublin and at St. Anne's in Galway.

The working group on child and adolescent psychiatry also recommended the enhancement and expansion of the overall child and adolescent psychiatric services as the most effective means of providing the required service for children with mental illness. This has been a priority for my Department in recent years. Since 1997, additional funding in excess of €20 million has been provided to allow for the appointment of additional consultants in child and adolescent psychiatry, for the enhancement of existing consultant-led multidisciplinary teams and towards the establishment of further teams. This has resulted in the funding of a further 23 child and adolescent consultant psychiatrists. Nationally, there are now 56 such psychiatrists employed.

Under the new Disability Act, the definition of disability is based on the degree of disability and not on the type of illness. This means that all severe and enduring, or chronic, mental illnesses would be covered. It is most likely, therefore, that the severity of the eating disorder and the patient's prognosis would determine eligibility for services under the Act.

The future direction and delivery of all aspects of our mental health services, including services for eating disorders and child and adolescent psychiatry, will be considered in the context of the work of the expert group on mental health policy which is due to complete its work before the end of the year.