Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the stage the transitional arrangements for expanding mental health services to all aged zero to 18 are at, as outlined under section 10.13.2 of the report of the expert group on mental health policy A Vision for Change document; when will there be an end to the current practice of placing children in adult inpatient facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5154/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, entitled "A Vision for Change", was launched in January 2006. It provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health service over the next 7 to 10 years. "A Vision for Change" recommends that child and adolescent mental health services should provide mental health services to all aged 0-18 years.

Transitional arrangements to facilitate the expansion of current service provision pending the provision of new child and adolescent units were considered and planned by a HSE forum on Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Capacity. The forum's report was published in September 2006 and has been accepted by the board of the HSE. It recommended, as an interim measure pending the development of child and adolescent in-patient units, the provision of an additional 24-32 dedicated adolescent psychiatric beds, primarily for the 16 and 17 year age group, across the four HSE administrative areas. Dedicated child and adolescent multidisciplinary teams will be provided for these additional beds and training will be provided for staff in the identified units. In addition, a further 12 beds will be provided at existing child psychiatric units (6 in St Anne's, Galway and 6 in Warrenstown House, Dublin) for the under 16 age group.

The Mental Health Commission acknowledges that the admission of children to adult units is undesirable, however, in situations where there is no available alternative, such admissions may be necessary. The Commission has issued a code of practice relating to the admission of children under the Mental Health Act 2001 to ensure that the best interests of children are protected at all times.

In addition to the transitional arrangements outlined above, planning for four 20-bed child and adolescent inpatient units in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick is underway.