Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
1233. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether the prevalence of chemical restraint has increased or decreased nationally over the past decade; and the conclusions drawn by her Department or the Mental Health Commission in relation to those trends. [10502/26]
View answerI understand that the Mental Health Commission collects data in relation to the restrictive practices which are provided for under the Mental Health Act, 2001 i.e. seclusion, physical restraint and mechanical restraint. The Mental Health Commission does not collect data on chemical or pharmacological restraint as this is not provided for under the Mental Health Act, 2001. In preparation for the new Mental Health Act, the Mental Health Commission will be preparing Regulations on pharmacological restraint that will create a regulatory framework for monitoring the practice and for the collection of related data.
