Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 206: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children what plans she has under way to develop specialist mental health services, especially for eating disorders at a community and primary care level for young persons here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31405/05]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 207: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the fact that eating disorders are disabling conditions which have a higher mortality rate than any other psychiatric illness; her views on whether an eating disorder will be covered under the Disability Bill 2004 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31406/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 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.

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.

An expert group on mental health policy is 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 report of the expert group is expected to be published early in 2006.