Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-22
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Teresa Costello (FF), Agricultural Panel

Just speaking on the issue of a child being put into an adult facility, what is age-appropriate? I just want to address that. If they are in an adult facility for a very short time, under the care of nurses 24-7, in a room on their own, is that not appropriate for their age for a short space of time? If for one second they were going to be put into a ward with four people, I would be saying that is not age-appropriate. If they can be shielded from the other adults, let us say, are they not in an age-appropriate setting for that short time? I am just putting it out there as something to think about. If they can be protected as such by being looked after 24-7 by nurses in a private room, which is the only offering that has been made in these emergencies, is that not appropriate to their age? They are not being exposed to adults in that facility during their time there.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22