Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

615. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 348 of 8 February 2023, the specific way the legal position of the Mental Health Commission changed in respect of its oversight of the Owenacurra Centre closure in the final week of August 2022, such that it consulted with family members of residents at that stage, having declined to do so on the basis of legal restraints following requests for family consultation by a public representative and family members themselves in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9985/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Mental Health Commission is an independent statutory body established under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 2001. The Department of Health sought a response from the Mental Health Commission in relation to the above Parliamentary Question. The Mental Health Commission provided the following response:

'The Commission regularly meets with residents of approved mental health centres as part of its inspection process. The Commission met with residents of Owenacurra either remotely or in-person during the annual and one focused inspection in 2021; and in-person with residents during the annual and two focused inspections of the centre in 2022. In late August 2022, the MHC also met with families of residents, further to issues raised by families that year.'

As stated previously, under the Mental Health Act 2001, the Mental Health Commission is required to inspect and regulate all approved centres across the country at least once a year.

The inspection of approved centres is a matter for the Mental Health Commission as an independent statutory body.