Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is appropriate that private security guards may be deployed to assist in restraining psychiatric patients in accident and emergency departments; if there have been any incidents of same in 2012 or 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30506/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The question of employing private security guards is a matter for hospital management in the first instance, in accordance with appropriate legal and other standards. I have been advised by the HSE that security arrangements in terms of deployment differ from hospital to hospital and policies are devised and implemented at a local level.

As this is a service matter I have referred the question to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.