Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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747. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of developing an all island mother and baby perinatal mental health unit. [35532/25]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services( SPMHS) 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. My Department continues to support the HSE as it aims to put in place an MBU as soon as possible.

With reference to the information requested as this is an operational issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.