Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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2349.To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 9 July 2024, if the 42 reports of sexual assaults were reported to the Gardaí; the outcomes of these investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32667/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for this question and highlight again that the report of the Mental Health Commission and the Inspector of Mental Health Services provides an important independent insight into where we are performing well and where improvements can be made.

As previously mentioned in answering Parliamentary Question No. 647 the Department of Health engaged with the Mental Health Commission, who advised:

Upon being notified of an alleged sexual assault, the MHC requests the approved centres to submit a confirmation that the Gardaí have been informed of the alleged incident and the evidence of same.

As part of the follow-up on the reported alleged sexual assaults, the MHC asked the approved centres about their progress with the implementation of the joint HIQA and MHC National Standards on Adult Safeguarding, their safeguarding arrangements or training in relation to same. Safeguarding is now one of the mandatory pieces of training outlined in Judgement Support Framework 2024 to determine compliance with Regulation 26: Staffing of the Mental Health Act 2001 (approved centres) Regulations 2006.'

The status of investigations into alleged sexual assaults reported to the Gardaí remains a matter for the Gardaí who I have no doubt will conduct their investigation accordingly.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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2350.To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 9 July 2024, the locations of the 42 reports of sexual assaults; the locations of these reported sexual assaults; the steps taken in these locations to prevent this from happening again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32668/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for this question and highlight again that the report of the Mental Health Commission and the Inspector of Mental Health Services provides an important independent insight into where we are performing well and where improvements can be made.

As previously mentioned in answering Parliamentary Question No. 647 the Department of Health engaged with the Mental Health Commission, who advised:

'The MHC corresponded with the National Director, Community Operations in the HSE about alleged sexual assaults in approved centres which resulted in correspondence being issued to all Chief Officers and the creation of the HSE’s Sexual Safety Task & Finish Group.

Upon being notified of an alleged sexual assault, the MHC requests the approved centres to submit a confirmation that the Gardaí have been informed of the alleged incident and the evidence of same.

As part of the follow-up on the reported alleged sexual assaults, the MHC asked the approved centres about their progress with the implementation of the joint HIQA and MHC National Standards on Adult Safeguarding, their safeguarding arrangements or training in relation to same. Safeguarding is now one of the mandatory pieces of training outlined in Judgement Support Framework 2024 to determine compliance with Regulation 26: Staffing of the Mental Health Act 2001 (approved centres) Regulations 2006.'

The status of investigations into alleged sexual assaults reported to the Gardaí remains a matter for the Gardaí who I have no doubt will conduct their investigation accordingly. It would not be appropriate to share the location of alleged sexual assaults as this could lead to the identification of service users, or jeopardise any ongoing investigations by the Gardaí.