Written answers
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Department of Health
Mental Health Services
Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1273. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the progress of a mother and baby psychiatric unit; when it will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29005/25]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services is now available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide, SPMHS provides support to pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old, with an existing or new mental health problem. Funding to date of €3.6 million has resulted in 6 consultant led multidisciplinary teams are in place across major maternity hospitals (Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Cork, Limerick), with 13 spoke sites staffed by perinatal mental health midwife posts.
A key priority in the Model of Care is to develop a Mother and Baby Unit. Work is ongoing by the HSE to progress the development of a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) for Ireland, an inpatient mental health service with relevant maternity support to allow women to stay with their babies during their mental health treatment. A feasibility study on the MBU at St Vincent’s Hospital is currently under consideration by the HSE, and I expect a decision on the location of the Unit to be taken this year. Delivering the MBU is a key priority for me as Minister, and my Department are also working with the HSE to progress an interim Mother and Baby solution as the build will take some time.
Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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1274. To ask the Minister for Health for a timetable for the establishment of Jigsaw in County Clare; if it will be established in more than one location in the county, given its size; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29006/25]
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
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