Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date for the completion of the next census of psychiatric hospitals; the number of patients of psychiatric hospitals that have been resident for 20 years or longer; the number of deaths in psychiatric hospitals in 2005; her Department's policy towards long-term stays in psychiatric hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41460/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Mental Health Commission has conducted an annual inpatient census since 2004. The census is reported in the Annual Report of the Mental Health Commission. The latest census was conducted on 8th November, 2006 and all returns are due by 8th December, 2006.

In the census carried out by the Mental Health Commission on 4th November 2005, there were 3,475 persons in approved centres. 476 persons were in hospital for 21 years or more. The 2005 Annual Report of the Commission contains further information on the census, including gender, age and legal status. The Health Research Board Report on Activities of Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals 2005 reports 229 deaths in psychiatric in-patient facilities during 2005.

The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change" was launched on 24th January, 2006. This policy envisions an active, flexible and community-based mental health service where the need for hospital admission will be greatly reduced. The report recommends that steps be taken to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals and to re-invest the resources released by these closures in the mental health service.

The Report emphasises that this process should take place on a phased basis with wards closing sequentially. The Health Service Executive has emphasised that mental hospitals can only close when the clinical needs of the remaining patients have been addressed in more appropriate settings such as additional community residences, day hospitals and day centres. There will also have to be a substantial increase in the number of community-based multidisciplinary Community Mental Health Teams, as recommended in "A Vision for Change".