James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 69: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to properly resource the child and adolescent mental health services in order that timely interventions are provided for children identified by their schools as at risk and in need of such intervention, in particular in north County Dublin (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34523/08]

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

The HSE Service Plan for 2008 provides for the recruitment of eight additional child and adolescent multi-disciplinary teams to further support the provision of child and adolescent psychiatric services. In relation to in-patient facilities the HSE expect to commission 18 additional child and adolescent beds in the current year; the provision of these beds will increase the 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 are due to open in the last quarter of the year. The construction of two 20 bed child and adolescent units — one in Galway and one in Cork will begin later this year.

In regard to the details supplied by the Deputy operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive, therefore, is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the case investigated and to reply directly to the Deputy.