Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that I have already announced plans to amend the Mental Health Act 2001 based on the recommendations of the Expert Group Review of the Act which was published in March.

As regards the oversight of community based services by the Mental Health Commission, the Expert Group recommended that in future, community mental health services should be registered and inspected at reasonable intervals using a risk based system starting with all community mental health teams. This would mean the registering of all High, Medium and Low Support Hostels; Crisis/Respite Houses; any other Residential Services; Day Hospitals, Day Centres and other facilities in which mental health services are provided.

In July, Government approved plans to proceed with the general scheme of a bill and officials are working on the heads of the amending bill which will legislate for the recommendations of the Review including those relating to the proposed registration and inspection of community mental health services. I expect this work to be completed in 2016.