Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to facilitate children suffering from mental illness within the health system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23100/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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At present there are 55 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams in place throughout the country. The HSE has prioritised the development of child and adolescent mental health services in 2009. An additional 8 consultant led child psychiatry teams to further support the provision of child and adolescent psychiatric services will be developed. In addition, funding was provided in Budget 2009 for the provision of 35 additional therapy posts for the child and adolescent mental health service. This will enable the HSE to increase the number of Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams to 69 by the end of 2009.

With regard to in-patient capacity in the child and adolescent mental health service, there are currently 22 child and adolescent beds in the country, 10 in Galway and 12 in Dublin (6 in St. Vincent's Fairview, 6 in Warrenstown). An additional 8 interim beds in St. Stephen's Hospital, Cork have recently been completed and it is anticipated that these beds will be commissioned shortly. Construction has commenced on two 20 bed units in Bessboro, Cork and Merlin Park, Galway. Construction is scheduled to be completed on both of these developments in late 2009 and the beds commissioned in 2010.