Central Mental Hospital among facilities criticised in latest commission reports

Mental health facilities across Ireland, including the Central Mental Hospital and units at Tallaght and Sligo hospitals, have received criticism for varying levels of compliance with regulations and standards. The latest reports from the Mental Health Commission, based on inspections of 15 facilities in 2025, highlight significant areas of concern.

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moved from a steady improvement to a notable drop in compliance over the past two years.

The Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, Co Dublin, was found to be 69% compliant. While this represented an improvement from 17 areas of noncompliance in 2024 to 11 areas in the latest inspection, inspectors noted that residents lacked access to a dietitian and had limited access to a psychologist, with 23 residents on a waiting list. These issues impacted regulations covering therapeutic services, general health, staffing, and risk management.

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In 2025, the inspection team found 13 areas of noncompliance, reflecting a small decrease from 14 areas in 2024. However, the number of non-compliant regulations risk-rated at a critical risk level increased from six to eight.

Similarly, the acute psychiatric unit at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin scored 63% compliance, and the acute mental health unit at Sligo University Hospital received 67% compliance. The Sligo unit's report indicated a "steady improvement to a notable drop in compliance over the past two years." At Tallaght, inspectors found 13 areas of noncompliance, with critical risk levels increasing from six to eight. The report criticized substandard care plans and inconsistent participation from multidisciplinary teams, exacerbated by staff vacancies in occupational therapy and psychology, which compromised the adequacy of therapeutic services.

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This inspection team highlighted 11 areas of noncompliance, which was an improvement on the 17 areas of noncompliance in 2024.

Across the inspected facilities, common areas of noncompliance included individual care plans, therapeutic services, privacy, record-keeping, and risk management. Issues related to the use of seclusion, physical restraint, and regulation of visits were also detailed. The reports also touched upon problems with prescribing, storing, and administering medicines. While one center achieved 90-100% compliance, and several others scored between 70-90%, the three lowest performers underscore persistent challenges in meeting required standards within the mental healthcare system.

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residents in the approved centre did not have access to a dietitian and limited access to a psychologist. At the time of inspection 23 residents were on a waiting list to see a psychologist.