Public Consultation on the Proportionality of the Mental Health Bill 2024

The Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler has commenced a public consultation on legislation introducing a new Mental Health Legal Aid Scheme under the Mental Health Bill 2024 (which will replace the Mental Health Acts 2001-2018).

Background material is set out in sections 1 and 2 of the Public Consultation Document, which can be found below. If you would like to receive background information in Irish, please email Lorraine_Doyle@health.gov.ie to request same.

This survey is aimed at legal professionals, representative organisations, service providers, service recipients and other relevant stakeholders. The survey is being conducted by the Irish Department of Health. A report will be prepared based on the responses to this survey, however, individual responses will not be reported. Any personal information submitted to the department will be treated strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please note people can request to see the submissions we receive under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014, so information provided in the survey may be released in response to an FOI request. This is more likely to happen with responses from organisations. This means that the requestor might receive your answers to the survey, however, any personal information included in responses would be redacted prior to release. If you have any queries, please email opendisclosurepolicy@health.gov.ie

The survey is being hosted on EU survey and should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete. Excluding information about you, the survey asks 7 questions. Each can be responded to by indicating your agreement/disagreement on a five-point scale or by setting out the risk/benefits of the proposal. Question 2.7 presents yes, no or no opinion answer options. A free text box for each question is provided as well as one at the end of the survey for any other related issue you would like to raise.

Section 1 asks about your details

Section 2 contains 7 questions

To view the consultation click the button below.