Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
1129. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on progress, capital allocation, staffing plans and expected opening date for the long-promised National Mother and Baby Unit for perinatal mental health. [72452/25]
View answerThe Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services( SPMHS) is now available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide, SPMHS provides support to pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old, with an existing or new mental health problem. Funding to date of €3.6 million has resulted in 6 consultant led multidisciplinary teams are in place across major maternity hospitals (Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Cork, Limerick), with 13 spoke sites staffed by perinatal mental health midwife posts.
A key priority in the Model of Care is to develop a Mother and Baby Unit. I working with my Department and the HSE to progress the development of a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) for Ireland, an inpatient mental health service with relevant maternity support to allow women to stay with their babies during their mental health treatment. A feasibility study on the MBU at St Vincent’s Hospital is currently under consideration by the HSE. My Department continues to support the HSE as it works to put in place an MBU as soon as possible.
As this relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE to reply to you directly.
