Press Release: Friday 21 August 2026
Publication of the Third Annual Progress Report of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan TD, Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD and Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, have published the Third Annual Report of the High Level Taskforce Steering Committee on Mental Health and Addiction. The Report sets out progress on a range of actions being taken to address mental health and addiction needs of people in prison.
This is the third report of the Steering Committee which was established by the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to monitor implementation of recommendations in the High Level Taskforce report, published in 2022. The committee’s first and second reports are available here.
Key areas of progress over the period covered in the report from September 2024 to September 2025 include the launch of the Community Access Support Team (CAST) pilot project in Limerick; €2.1 million provided to open the remaining 18 beds in the Central Mental Hospital; €2 million provided for new talk therapies and counselling supports specifically for men; the appointment of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) Mental Health and Addiction Lead; Publication of “Community or Custody? A Review of Evidence and Sentencers’ Perspectives on Community Service Orders and Short-Term Prison Sentences”; and the Launch of Ireland’s first Mental Health Promotion Plan – ‘Pathways to Wellbeing’.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“I welcome the publication of the Third Annual Progress Report of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction which strives to better support those in the criminal justice system with mental health and/or addiction issues.
“Meeting this commitment of Government ensures that the critical mental health needs of people in prison are better met, that addiction treatments are provided and that appropriate primary care supports are available on release.
“We know that the needs of those who interact with the criminal justice system are complex, and, given how often they are influenced by mental health and addiction challenges, a collaborative approach remains essential to sustain progress for some of the most vulnerable, and indeed forgotten, people within our society.
“It is particularly encouraging that the strong commitment to progress the HLTF Report has been maintained by all agencies and I very much look forward to this close cooperation continuing over 2026 to improve the health outcomes for this cohort and to make a meaningful difference to their treatment”
Minister O’Callaghan said:
“I welcome the Third Annual Progress Report of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction. The progress achieved against the recommendations of the taskforce highlights the value of cross-Departmental co-operation in ensuring the right services and treatments are available to support people in custody in their rehabilitation and in moving away from lives of crime.
“In particular, the appointment of an Irish Prison Service Mental Health and Addiction Lead has seen greatly enhanced connectivity between services to better support those in the criminal justice system with mental health and/or addiction issues. This enhanced coordination will support transition of care for our most vulnerable prisoners upon their release into the community.
“The establishment of a Community Access Support Team (CAST) as recommended by the taskforce has also resulted in multiple diversions of those experiencing situational trauma or a mental health crisis away from the criminal justice system and towards the healthcare system.
“I look forward to further progressing the recommendations of the taskforce to help strengthen a criminal justice system that not only enables the best possible outcomes for those who interact with it but helps to increase safety in our communities.”
Minister Butler said:
“This report shows there has been real progress in diverting people with mental health crises away from hospitals and custodial settings, while ensuring people receive joined-up, person-centred care that meets their individual needs.
“I am particularly pleased with the successful pilot of the Community Access Support Team (CAST), which has shown how effective early assessment, intervention and diversion can be for vulnerable people who come into contact with the Gardai.
“I have continued to invest in and expand dual diagnosis services, helping people who are experiencing both mental health challenges and addiction to access more coordinated and effective support.
“Significant progress has also been made in rolling out several models of care related to the work of the Taskforce including additional Early Intervention in Psychosis teams, a dedicated Adult ADHD team for the Prison Psychology Service, and further investment in the expansion of community-based Crisis Resolution Teams and crisis ‘Solace’ cafes. These investments will support many of the Taskforce’s objectives to provide health-led early intervention responses in our communities.
“I remain committed to driving reform across mental health services to ensure that everyone who needs support can access high-quality care as close to home as possible, receive treatment with dignity and respect, and benefit from support specific to their individual needs.”
Minister Murnane O’Connor said:
“I welcome today’s publication of the Third Annual Progress Report of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction.
“The High Level Taskforce recognises the importance of taking a compassionate, whole-person approach to supporting people with mental health and addiction challenges who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
“I have always maintained that we need a holistic response that supports an individual to address the harms associated with all substances and to provide integrated wraparound supports tailored to meet their individual needs. This is a concept that is very much reflected in the aims, objectives and work of the High Level Taskforce.”
This third annual progress report was prepared by the HLTF Joint Steering Committee, incorporating input from relevant bodies such as the Health Service Executive, Irish Prison Service, Probation Service, and An Garda Síochána.