Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to combat the severe shortage of child appropriate care settings within the community and hospitals; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that more than 2,650 children and teenagers were admitted to adult psychiatric hospitals and units in general hospitals between 1998 and 2000 and that more than 200 of these were aged 15 and under; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35479/05]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 144: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she intends to take to improve mental health service to the young, following a study that up to 26% of teenagers have mental health issues; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that mental health problems is higher among children from lower socio-economic groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35471/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 144 together.

The development of child and adolescent psychiatric services has been a priority for my Department in recent years. Since 1997, additional funding of more than €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 multi-disciplinary 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.

The first report of the working group on child and adolescent psychiatry, published in February 2001, 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 former Eastern Regional Health Authority area at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview. Design teams are in the process of being appointed for the units in Cork, Limerick and Galway. At present, inpatient services for children and adolescents are provided at Warrenstown House, Dublin and at St. Anne's in Galway.

The second report of the working group on child and adolescent psychiatry, published in June 2003, contained proposals for the development of psychiatric services for 16 to 18 year olds. It recommends that, in the further development of child and adolescent psychiatric service, priority should be given to the recruitment in each health board area of a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with a special interest in the psychiatric disorders of later adolescence. The report emphasises the importance of co-operation and close liaison between child and adolescent mental health services and suggests that the current arrangements, whereby the adult services provide a service to the population of their catchment area, including the 16 to 18 age cohort, should continue on an interim basis, pending the development of the specialist services referred to earlier.

I am aware of concerns expressed regarding the practice of admitting children to adult psychiatric units. While there has been a significant decline in the numbers of children and adolescents admitted to adult psychiatric units in the period since 2000, I accept that the placement of any child with mental health problems in an adult facility is inappropriate. I am also aware that there is evidence to indicate that, as is the case with adults, the level of mental health problems is higher among children from lower socio-economic groups.

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 due to complete its work shortly.