Press release
Minister Butler and Minister Browne launch new mental health pilot Community Access Support Team in Limerick
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
A national pilot initiative aimed at assisting people who are experiencing situational trauma or a mental health crisis was launched today in Limerick city by Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler, and Minister for Law Reform, International Law, and Youth Justice James Browne.
The project, entitled ‘Community Access Support Team’ (CAST), is a partnership between An Garda Síochána and Mental Health Services Health Service Executive (HSE) Mid-West Community Healthcare. It will be trialled in the Limerick Garda Division.
Supported by the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, the pilot will work on intervention, prevention, and outreach, to yield better outcomes for people experiencing a mental health crisis or situational trauma. The pilot project will provide a better experience for the individual in crisis/situational trauma and their families, delivering support and intervention at the right time, right place and with the appropriate service.
The CAST team will be based at Henry Street Garda Station and will aim to reduce future presentations and interactions with Gardaí or other blue light emergency services, through community follow-ups and more sustained engagement by relevant services with people in a mental health crisis.
Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler said:
“I welcome this new and innovative CAST Pilot Project between An Garda Síochána and the HSE here in Limerick. This joint initiative will bring more focused inter-agency care as envisaged under our national mental health policy Sharing the Vision and the Final Report of the High-Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction.
“A key priority will be to divert a small but highly vulnerable group within our society away from prison and towards the healthcare system. The Pilot Project is designed to reduce stigma and promote recovery for those that avail of mental health support services. I was particularly pleased to learn that those with lived experience contributed to developing the Pilot. This project exemplifies the commitment of Government to improve all aspects of our Mental Health Services, which was reinforced by the record funding of nearly €1.5billion that I secured for Mental Health under Budget 2025”.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice for Law Reform, International Law, and Youth Justice, James Browne said:
“The launch of the Community Access Support Team (CAST) marks a significant step forward on the progress of recommendations set out by the High-Level Task Force and the Commission of the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI).
“This pilot, encompassing intervention, prevention, and outreach, is the first of its kind for Ireland. When a relevant 999 call has been triaged, the on-scene response brings together members of An Garda Siochana, the HSE and the wider CAST Team. This approach reflects the shared goal of providing a compassionate and effective response to people in distress, and by offering the right support when it is most needed, reducing the likelihood of future offending and building safer communities overall.
“Over the duration of the pilot, we will continue to support the integration and collaboration across the services operating in the Limerick Garda Division and to gather the research to further understand the needs of those who interact with the criminal justice system.”
The CAST project is based on significant international evidence and experience demonstrating improved outcomes for adults requiring the intervention of a policing response at times of a mental health crisis or situational trauma.
An initiative under "A Policing Service for the Future", it follows extensive engagement between An Garda Síochána and the HSE with Crisis Intervention Team members in other countries, and those with lived experience of engaging with the Gardaí at times of a mental health crisis.
The CAST project comprises two modes of delivery to people in crisis and/or situational trauma within the Limerick Garda Division. These are:
1 - Crisis Response
A co-response will be provided by An Garda Síochána and Mental Health Services in the HSE to respond to relevant 999 calls that have been triaged. During the pilot phase, the hours-of-service provision will vary and include day and out-of-hours working. The on-scene crisis response will involve trained members of An Garda Síochána working with their existing operational unit and supported by an assigned Clinical Nurse Specialist and other members of the CAST Team.
The CAST team will be based in Henry Street Garda Station during working hours and will follow up with individuals based on needs identified during co-response.
When not responding to calls, these staff will be completing work associated with the project such as linking in with external agencies, outreach to homeless and addiction services, following up on previous callouts and providing ongoing intervention based on need.
Two electric vehicles have been provided to the CAST team and will be operated by Garda members working on the project in the Limerick Division.
2 - Community Support Forum
At the heart of the CAST pilot project is the establishment of a Multi-Agency Support Forum in Limerick. This forum comprises of identified statutory agencies and approved support services. An independent person from the local authority, Limerick City and County Council, chairs the forum which will meet monthly. The aim of the forum is to provide an integrated approach to working with persons in crises.
The CAST team will be staffed by HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare professionals and members of An Garda Síochána, both located at Henry Street Garda and working collaboratively.
The CAST team will consist of:
Co-responders will be trained members of AGS Limerick working normal rostered hours who will take up duty with HSE resources or with another trained co-responder.
The partnership will also: