Dáil Éireann
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Vol. 980 Wednesday, No. 8 13 March 2019 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 13/03/2019A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 13/03/2019A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 13/03/2019A00250Mental Health Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 13/03/2019A01050Hospital Overcrowding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 13/03/2019B00700Hospital Consultant Contracts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 13/03/2019C00500Cannabis for Medicinal Use � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 13/03/2019D00200Trade Union Recognition � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 13/03/2019D02250Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 13/03/2019D02300National Children’s Hospital Expenditure� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 13/03/2019E01000Medicinal Products Reimbursement� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15 13/03/2019F00250Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Administration � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16 13/03/2019G00200Hospital Accommodation Provision� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19 13/03/2019G01000Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 13/03/2019H00800Drug and Alcohol Task Forces � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23 13/03/2019H01450Mental Health Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24 13/03/2019J00400Hospital Overcrowding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26 13/03/2019J01300General Practitioner Services Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26 13/03/2019J02400Dental Services Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28 13/03/2019K00300Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29 13/03/2019O00550Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 38 13/03/2019R02600Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 48 13/03/2019R02900Special Joint Committee on Climate Action: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 48 13/03/2019R03200Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49 13/03/2019Y00300Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49 13/03/2019Y00400Schools Building Projects Status� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49 13/03/2019Z00200Respite Care Services Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 52 13/03/2019AA00200Commission for Regulation of Utilities� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 13/03/2019BB00300Business Insurance: Motion [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 57 13/03/2019NN00400Period Poverty: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 88 13/03/2019XX00300Message from Select Committee� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 111 13/03/2019XX00500Message from Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 111 13/03/2019XX00700Recent Developments on Brexit: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 111 13/03/2019JJJ00400Independent Clinical Review of Maternity Services at Portiuncula University Hospital: Statements (Resumed) 137 13/03/2019LLL00300Credit Union Restructuring Board (Dissolution) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 142 13/03/2019PPP00400Credit Union Restructuring Board (Dissolution) Bill 2019: Referral to Select Committee� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 149 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 13 Márta 2019 Wednesday, 13 March 2019 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 13/03/2019A00100Ceisteanna - Questions 13/03/2019A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 13/03/2019A00250Mental Health Services 13/03/2019A003001� Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to regulate community residences which are providing care to a large cohort of vulnerable persons with long-term mental illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter� [12661/19] 13/03/2019A00400Deputy James Browne: I ask the Minister for Health what his plans are to regulate commu- nity residences which are providing care to a large cohort of vulnerable persons with long-term mental illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter� 13/03/2019A00500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly): The Mental Health Commission was established under the Mental Health Act 2001� The commission’s main func- tions are to promote, encourage and foster high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services and to protect the interests of patients who are involuntarily admitted� Accordingly, the Mental Health Act 2001 states that the Inspector of Mental Health Services shall visit and inspect every approved centre at least once in each year, and visit and inspect any other premises where mental health services are being provided as he or she thinks appropriate� The expert group review of this Act was published in 2015 and work is under way on pre- paring the general scheme of a Bill to reflect the group’s recommendations in revised mental health legislation. A number of proposed changes to the legislation will affect the operation of the commission� Included in these is the recommendation to remove the requirement to inspect each approved centre annually� Instead, there would be a requirement to inspect each approved centre at least once in every three-year period and more often according to targeted risk� This would allow, on a phased basis, the registration and inspection of all community mental health teams and other mental health facilities such as support hostels, crisis or respite houses, other 825 Dáil Éireann residential services, day hospitals, day centres and other facilities in which mental health ser- vices are provided at the discretion of the Mental Health Commission� Significant progress has been made in recent months with the aim of finalising the draft heads of the Bill in the coming weeks� The initial draft will then be passed on to the Mental Health Commission for its views� Notwithstanding other legislative pressures on the Oireach- tas at the moment, it is anticipated that the mental health (amendment) Bill will then commence its progress through the Oireachtas later this year� 13/03/2019A00600Deputy James Browne: I thank the Minister of State� There continues to be great concern about 24-hour staffed community residences which are not regulated but provide care to a large cohort of vulnerable people with long-term mental illnesses� The Mental Health Commission has stated that it takes the view that these residences accommodate too many service users, are often of poor physical infrastructure, and are institutional in nature and lack individual care plans� Regulation of these residences should be prioritised� I am glad to hear it may be dealt with in the coming legislation but, nonetheless, it should have happened before now� As I un- derstand it, the heads of this Bill have been promised every year for the last three years and we still have not seen them� Over 1,300 vulnerable adults with mental illness were accommodated in community resi- dences that are unregulated, mostly in institutionalised settings� We regularly hear the mantra of the Minister about decongregation but it would appear people will be decongregated from regulated settings into unregulated settings in the community� Rather than decongregation