High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction – 1st Annual Progress Report (September 2022-2023)

20th February 2024

On 15 February 2024, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health published the first annual progress report of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction. The progress report covers the period between September 2022 - and September 2023 and was completed in December 2023. It sets out the progress made by all stakeholders over the last year since the publication of the Implementation Plan in September 2022. 

The establishment of the High Level Taskforce was one of IPRT's key asks that was included in the Programme for Government. The IPRT report Progress in the Penal System (PIPS): A framework for penal reform (2022) further outlines that the State should ensure the recommendations of the High Level Task Force are fully implemented within their stated timeframes, and that progress is made easily trackable and public.

Key progress on High Level Taskforce recommendations listed in the progress report includes:

• Opening of the new National Forensic Mental Health Service facility in Portrane in November 2022.
• Joint progress on the Community Access Support Team project in Limerick.
• Mental Health First Aid training will be rolled out to members of An Garda Síochána, with the Gardaí launching an initial 2-year partnership with Mental Health First Aid Ireland in July 2023.
• The Dual Diagnosis Model of Care was launched by the Health Service Executive on 23 May 2023 - three initial sites are currently being established in CHOs 3, 4 and 9.
• The Crisis Resolution Services Model of Care was launched in May 2023.
• The Health Needs Assessment Report, prepared by Crowe Ireland consultants, was published by the Ministers for Justice and Health in May 2023.
• Service details from non-governmental organisations funded by Health Service Executive Mental Health have been shared with the Health Service Executive National Office for Suicide Prevention for inclusion in a directory for General Practitioners.
• The Mental Health Bill (to update the Mental Health Act 2001) and the Health Information Bill both have priority drafting for the Dáil’s Autumn 2023 session.
• The High Level Taskforce recommendation that prisons should not be designated under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 for the purpose of treating prisoners with a mental health condition has been completed and agreed.
• Significant progress made in recruiting General Practitioners in the Irish Prison Service to meet the Health Needs Assessment recommendations.
• The ADHD National Clinical Programme was launched in January 2021 with 5 Adult ADHD teams now operational and a further 2 teams in advanced development.
• A joint Steering Committee has been established between the Department of Justice and the Department of Health to monitor implementation of the High Level Taskforce report recommendations.
• A consultation process with the Irish Prison Service regarding the expansion of the offences under the Adult Caution Scheme is under way.
• The Health Service Executive’s overall Mental Health capital budget increased from €15m in 2022 to €27m in 2023.
• The Probation Service has received funding to support increased capacity for delivering restorative justice interventions nationwide in 2024.
• High Level Taskforce on mental health and addiction 1st progress report – December 2023
• As part of the work of the Steering Group and the wider stakeholders, the following core values reflected in the High Level Taskforce Report have been kept to the fore in the context of implementing all recommendations over the last year:

Read the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction – 1st Annual Progress Report (September 2022-2023)