Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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44. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the situation and staffing at a facility (details supplied). [48152/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health In-patient Unit, based at Cherry Orchard in west Dublin, provides in-patient treatment, on a regional geographic basis, for children under the age of 18 years. Linn Dara is a 24 bed unit that has been operational since December 2015.

Referrals are accepted for persons under the age of 18, where the severity and complexity of the presenting mental health disorder is such that treatment at primary care service level has been unsuccessful.

The service provides assessment and treatment through a multi-disciplinary team for young people, and their families, who are experiencing mental health difficulties. On 2nd June 2017, due to previous difficulties in recruiting Psychiatric Nursing staff, and taking into account other factors such as quality and safety, a decision was made to temporarily reduce the operational capacity at Linn Dara to 11 beds. During the time of reduced capacity, all young persons were discharged based on appropriate clinical decisions, and with a detailed Care Plan and appropriate Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team follow-up.

The HSE has actively engaged in a recruitment process for nursing staff for this facility. Every effort was made to re-open beds at the earliest opportunity. The Executive continues to work with all the key stakeholders, including Unions, regarding innovative ways of ensuring provision of this vital service.

In September 2017, following a recruitment campaign, graduate Psychiatric Nurses were recruited for Linn Dara. As of 31st October 2017, there are the required number of staff in place to return the Unit to its approved capacity. Currently, 22 beds in Linn Dara have been re-opened, and 2 High Observation beds are also available for referrals.