Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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365. To ask the Minister for Health if a person with borderline personality disorder may be admitted on a voluntarily or involuntarily basis to a psychiatric hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22794/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Mental Health Act 2001 and regulations made thereunder contain the legislative provisions governing admission to and treatment for mental illness in approved centres.

Nothing in this Act prevents a person from being admitted voluntarily to an approved centre for treatment.

For a person to be admitted as an involuntary patient, there is a three stage process involving an initial application, a recommendation from a General Practitioner and an assessment by a Consultant Psychiatrist that the person under examination suffers from a mental disorder and meets the conditions for involuntary admission as set out in Section 3 of the Act.

Individuals with borderline personality disorder may be admitted as involuntary patients, but only if they are also deemed to be suffering from a mental disorder and providing they meet the conditions for involuntary admission as set out in section 3 of the Act.

Section 8(2) of the Mental Health Act 2001 specifically prohibits the involuntary admission of a person to an approved centre by reason only of the fact that the person:

(a) is suffering from a personality disorder;

(b) is socially deviant; or

(c) is addicted to drugs or intoxicants.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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366. To ask the Minister for Health the supports and treatments for persons who are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22795/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.