Mental Health Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-16
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Sharon Keogan (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I support the amendment. The Minister of State has been very proactive in this role since she took over. I listened to that RTÉ report this morning about the psychiatric nurses' conference in Cavan. I am concerned about the ten-bed closure at the CAMHS unit in St. Vincent's Hospital in Fairview. Perhaps the Minister of State could address that today.
We have fewer than 50 beds currently when it comes to CAMHS residential placements in this country. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to deliver more than 100 beds, but we have serious staff shortages. Even Linn Dara is talking about reopening another 11 beds, but is saying it is not going to be able to do it because it has not got the staff. There are another 20 beds to open at the children's hospital and they may not open because of staff shortages. I ask the Minister of State to outline a vision of where she sees a pathway forward to fix this.

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-16