Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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576. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children who continue to be admitted to adult psychiatric wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49692/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Draft figures for 2014 indicate that there were 89 admissions of children to adult psychiatric units. It is important to note that the number of admissions does not necessarily equate to the number of children admitted, as a child may be admitted on one or more occasions in any given year.

The reduction in the numbers of children admitted to adult psychiatric units has been a focus for the HSE Mental Health Services over recent years. Progress in this area has been significant, as evidenced by the fact that the number of such admissions to adult units in 2008 was 247, and that the number of such admissions has been declining annually since. The issue raised by the Deputy is a key priority action for improvement in the HSE Service Plan for 2015.