Mental Health Amendment Bill
Deputy Buckley urged the Government to fast-track the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016 after a child was placed overnight in an adult unit. Minister of State Helen McEntee said she would work with Senator Joan Freeman on the Bill and would come back directly to the Deputy.
A 16 year old child spent a night on a chair in an overcrowded acute adult mental health unit in Waterford.
The practice of placing children in adult mental health units has been described as inexcusable by the inspector of mental health services and the Mental Health Commission told the Government to end it six years ago. There is a Bill on the Order Paper, the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was introduced by Independent Senators Freeman, Craughwell and O'Donnell. Will the Government fast-track the Bill or introduce its own legislation immediately?
Comment on this
I will be working with Senator Joan Freeman on the Bill, but I cannot answer the question at the moment.
Comment on this
Can the Minister of State come back to me on it?
Comment on this
I can come back to the Deputy directly.