Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-10
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Mary Butler (FF), Waterford

To follow on from what the Senator said, in relation to capacity, we currently have 52 beds open. I secured the funding for 30 whole-time equivalents to reopen ten beds in Cherry Orchard next year. They were closed two and a half or three years ago because we were not able to provide safe staffing numbers. In budget 2026, I secured 300 whole-time equivalents and of those, 30 will be provided to reopen the beds in the Cherry Orchard area.
I have asked the Mental Health Commission to review the existing code of practice on such admissions. I am keeping the commission busy at the moment. The code will set out protections for children and time limits for such admissions. I have asked that. It is something we can discuss for secondary legislation because the timelines would not be an issue for primary legislation.
Like everyone here, I do not want to see anybody - any young person, any adolescent - in the wrong facility. I know I am labouring the point. In nearly all instances, they are aged 17 plus and are there with the support of their families. I have not come across one yet who has been in involuntary detention. The Mental Health Commission is informed straightaway, as is the Department. We are aware of these cases, and they are monitored exceptionally closely. It is always about putting the mental health challenges of the child front and centre for that short space of time, and to have them moved on to an appropriate setting as quickly as possible.
I reiterate that I have asked the Mental Health Commission to review the existing code of practice on such admissions. I would prefer not to legislate for admission to adult wards, which is what it would mean to put in the timeframe. We can look at it in the secondary legislation. I will be back to the Members a lot this year in relation to what comes next when we move to the enactment of the Bill. I am sure we will discuss the UN convention again. You never know. Maybe there will be a role for it there.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-10