Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the options available to those under 18 years of age who require residential treatment for eating disorders. [25506/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to make residential treatment for eating disorders available in the State to public patients under the age of 18 years. [25507/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has discussed with her Northern Ireland counterpart the possibility of establishing an all-Ireland residential care unit for under-18 year olds with eating disorders. [25508/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 to 281, inclusive, together.

While North South co-operation continues in many areas of health, currently I have no plans to discuss this issue with my Northern Ireland counterpart. However the Deputy may wish to note that The Eating Disorders Network Programme, a CAWT (Co-operation and Working Together) initiative, has received funding of Stg£2.5million from the European Union. As well as providing 12 whole time equivalent eating disorders practitioners, the project will improve the quality of care pathways for people with eating disorders, raise awareness and develop skills to improve therapeutic capacity and build carer support group capacity within communities in the border region. A Project Manager has now been appointed and a cross border clinical pathways working group established.

I regret that due to the current industrial action in the Health Service Executive I am not in a position to provide a substantive response to the remainder of the questions. However, if these matters remain of continuing concern to you, I would invite you to raise them with me again in due course.