The first report of a working group on child and adolescent psychiatry has recommended the development of seven in-patient psychiatric units for children ranging from six to 16 years.
The report suggests the focus of the centres would be the assessment and treatment of psychiatric, emotional or family disorders. These would include major adjustment disorders, anxiety, mood and eating disorders, and schizophrenia.
The cost of implementing the working group's report is estimated at £90 million.
The working group was set up last year to make recommendations on the development of child and adolescent psychiatry. The Minister of State for Health and Children, Ms Mary Hanafin, has welcomed the report's findings. It suggests that priority should be given, in the first instance, to the recruitment of the required expertise for the completion of existing consultant-led multidisciplinary teams.
Ms Hanafin said she accepted the need for more of such units. Five new units would be developed and funded under the National Development Plan. Three were at the planning stage.