Written answers

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Department of Health

Mental Health Services Provision

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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514. To ask the Minister for Health the efforts he is making to address the shortage of acute child psychiatric services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32595/13]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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When A Vision for Change was published in 2006, there were 49 Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health (CAMH) Teams and 12 dedicated Acute In-Patient beds for children. Today, there are 61 Community based (CAMH) teams and 39 Acute In-Patient beds nationally. A further 8 beds will be commissioned in Cork and a further 5 beds will re-open in Galway by year end. The second phase of the Child and Adolescent Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview will increase capacity from 12 to 18 beds in Dublin by the end of 2013. Increased bed capacity reflects an almost 60% decrease in admissions of children to adult units since 2008.

Mental health service delivery for children or adolescents is based on Community Mental Health Teams. In this regard, 150 additional posts were allocated to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams in 2012, and a further 80 posts were allocated for this specific service area in 2013. Such initiatives are underpinned by the special allocation of €70 million to develop mental health over this, and last, year and do not therefore reflect, in reality, a wind down of mental health provision overall. I understand that 109 of these posts have either been filled, or have a start date shortly, and that recruitment of the balance of the new posts remains a priority within the HSE. The Deputy will appreciate that the Executive has responsibility for the delivery of services at local level, including the need to address evolving services pressures in the context of overall resources. I will, obviously, continue to closely monitor implementation of this important initiative over the remainder of this year.

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