2026-01-22

2. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of approved psychology posts, per population, in psychiatry of later life services across each health region; to indicate the integrated health areas that currently do not have approved psychology posts, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5414/26]

I am asking for the number of approved psychology posts, per population, in older adult mental health teams across each health region and for the Minister to indicate whether there are integrated health areas that currently do not have approved psychology posts for older adult mental health teams. To be clear, I am not just asking about vacancies where there has been an attempt to recruit but where a post has not actually been approved to be advertised.

I thank the Deputy for asking this really important question. As Ireland’s population ages mental health services for older people need to continue evolving to meet the growing demand. Improving and expanding access to specialist mental health services for older people is something I am deeply committed to as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, and as a former Minister of State with responsibility for older people. In the community, HSE mental health services provide a national network of 34 psychiatry of later life teams to assess and treat mental health issues for adults over the age of 65. Teams are multidisciplinary, including psychologists, with over 400 staff working in older-age psychiatry teams nationwide. Over 85% of referrals are seen within 12 weeks. It is one area where we do not normally have challenges with waiting lists but we are seeing a slight change in that recently because of our ageing population. On the specific information requested, the HSE has advised my Department that information on approved psychology posts for psychiatry of later life services is not readily or immediately available at subspeciality or IHA level. However, I have asked that they gather the data and respond to the Deputy directly. The HSE has confirmed that the latest workforce data for wider mental health services shows a head count of 509 psychologists at the end of November 2025. That is across all definitions. I have secured an additional €2 million in funding this year for two new liaison teams for mental health services for older people, which will bring us to 36, and additional posts for community teams. These teams are advancing an important new model of specialist mental health services for older people. As the Deputy will be aware we have the integrated care programme for older people, ICPOP. This has worked really well in the five areas it has been trialled, a really great example being Limerick in the mid-west where mental health and ICPOP teams are working together.

I thank the Minister of State for following up that data. I do not doubt her bona fides in this area at all but it is not credible that the HSE would not have that data to hand. It is very basic. The importance of psychology as a core part of older adult mental health teams is long established Government policy. A Vision for Change in 2006 was explicit that older adult mental health services must be delivered through fully resourced multidisciplinary teams with psychology as a core part. That principle was reaffirmed in Sharing the Vision, which again recognised the essential role of psychology assessment and intervention for older adults. The failure to meet a benchmark that is 20 years old leaves older adults more reliant on medication and more at risk of physical health issues associated with declining mental health. The Mental Health Commission's latest annual electroconvulsive therapy activity report, which shows that in 2024 older adults formed a significant part of the population receiving ECT and the average age of a person receiving it has increased to 64, is also of great concern. There is also a well-established increased risk of unnecessary A and E admissions in older adults who are experiencing mental health difficulties. If we are serious about dignity, autonomy and quality of care for older adults, psychology cannot be seen as an optional add-on or a threadbare support.

I want to touch on the trial that has been running over the past three years. We all know ICPOPs are a one-stop shop for elderly people where everything is looked at in relation to their physical health. I am of the opinion that mental health should also be included here. We have trialled in five different areas where the psychiatrist of older age is also involved. I also want to give a shout-out to the psychiatry of later life teams working across the country. In the past few months in my own family, I had reason to have to avail of one of these. It is good that the psychiatrist of later life actually comes to the house of an elderly person and they do not experience the trauma of having to present at the hospital, for example. The psychiatrist will come, spend an hour there and be given a full history. Then there is a follow-up every two weeks with the mental health nurse coming back tweaking medication. It is an area that we do not hear a lot about because it functions very well.

The lack of adequate psychology staffing in older adult mental health teams represents a failure to meet the complexity of mental health needs of people in later life. It is also a failure by Government to meet wider obligations including under the UNCRPD, which emphasises access to appropriate mental health supports across the lifespan and the right to live in one's community with autonomy. Psychologists play a unique role in later life services supporting people to cope with ageing, loss, disability and cognitive decline. They work with families and carers reducing distress and behavioural symptoms, and helping people to remain autonomous for long as possible. My question is simple: what concrete steps is the Department taking to ensure that older adult mental health teams are staffed to the benchmarks that were established in 2006? Unfortunately Sharing the Vision did not include the same kinds of benchmarks, but that is the least we can expect. I hope the Minister of State will direct some criticism back to the HSE that it could not provide that basic information today. All it would take is an email to middle management to find that out.

I also look forward to getting that information because I am also a person who is data-driven. I want to talk briefly about the work that I have been doing along with the Minister who recently met psychologists in relation to CORU. I will also have a meeting this week about assistant psychology and CORU, which is really important. The Minister is very keen that not only those with a PhD, but also those with a master's degree will be able to work in those roles. I have secured €2 million in the budget to enhance the 34 teams we have already, which will increase to 36. I have convened a round table with my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, to take place next month on mental health and older people, and all the key stakeholders will be there. I am always a glass half full person, and we need to appreciate and acknowledge that we have one of the highest life expectancies in the whole of Europe. Only seven countries in the whole of the EU have a life expectancy in advance of 82.