Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
598. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths recorded in 2024 and 2025 in which an eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or other specified feeding or eating disorders, was listed as the primary or contributory cause of death; the source of this data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15990/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe roll-out of the National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders is progressing well with the 16 eating disorder teams specified in the Model of Care now fully funded. This includes 11 teams which are operational, a further three teams in recruitment and two teams in development. I have doubled investment on dedicated eating disorders services to €14m annually, compared to just €1.6m in 2016 and €6m when I assumed my role as Minister for Mental Health six budgets ago.
Approximately 110 dedicated eating disorder clinicians from the Programme are now working on specialist teams across the country, treating people with eating disorders every day.
In addition, I have prioritised the development of three new regional inpatient centres for adults with eating disorders in the HSE Capital Plan which will be built using an unprecedented €470m in NDP funding for mental health for the period 2026-2032.
This will add 19 new public beds, bringing to a total of 22, to ensure adults with eating disorders have more equitable, regional access to specialist inpatient support.
This is an area I have consistently prioritised for investment, and last week I received data on the activity of these vital services from the HSE. Key points include:
• Increases in activity across referrals, assessments, diagnoses and access to treatment. Over 900 referrals were received, and 600 assessments completed
• A total of 475 children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders were attending teams at the end of 2025
• There was a 13% increase in the number of people starting treatment for an eating disorder.
• Of the 600 assessments completed;
• 90% were female
• 1 in 3 were aged 15-17 years
• 78% were under 25 years
• 75% of referrals were assessed within 8 weeks
• Of the 534 eating disorder diagnoses provided by the Programme, anorexia nervosa was the most common at 56%, or 303 people.
All data will be made available on the HSE website shortly.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
