David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 145: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the statement by the monitoring group for A Vision for Change in which concern was expressed regarding the rate of progress on the provision of child and adolescent services including appropriate inpatient facilities; the action she will take to improve the provision of these services and address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32185/08]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 151: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of inpatient beds for child and adolescent psychiatry that are in place; the extra beds expected to be in place by the end of 2008; the number of new child and adolescent community teams that have been established in 2008; the number expected to be put in place by the end of 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32150/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 151 together.

I welcome the fact that the Health Service Executive has prioritised the development of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in 2008. In this regard the Service Plan for 2008 includes the completion of eight additional child and adolescent multi-disciplinary teams to further support the provision of child psychiatric services. In relation to in-patient facilities the position is that the HSE expect to provide an additional 18 children's beds in the current year; the provision of these beds will increase the acute bed complement to 30. Four of the additional beds have already been commissioned in St. Anne's, Galway, and a further 6 at St Vincent's Fairview and 8 at St Stephen's in Cork will be provided in the last quarter of the year. The HSE also hopes to begin construction on two 20 bedded child and adolescent units — one in Galway and one in Cork — later this year.