PRESS RELEASE: Thursday 26 February 2026
Minister for Mental Health confirms two additional Eating Disorder teams to increase supports for children and adults
- Minister Butler marks Eating Disorders Awareness Week with announcement of new teams for Galway and Waterford
- Total of 16 teams now funded with 11 teams currently operational
- Over 110 specialist eating disorder clinicians now working in newly established network of eating disorder services across the country
The Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler has today announced the locations for two additional eating disorder teams, being funded under Budget 2026. All 16 community-based specialist eating disorder teams specified in the Model of Care have now been funded, with teams either operational (11 teams), in active recruitment (three teams) or in development (two teams).
The new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) eating disorder team will be based in Waterford to serve the South East of the country, and the new adult team will be based in Galway to serve counties Galway and Roscommon. Locating the Adult team in Galway now provides the opportunity to co-locate the service with the existing CAMHS eating disorder team. Co-locating CAMHS and adult teams allows for smooth transitions between the two services when required, and this is being factored into the forthcoming 10-year Capital Plan for Mental Health. The commencement of the new teams is part of the nationwide rollout of the HSE’s National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders and is supported by an additional investment of over €3 million this year, bringing the total annual investment in specialist eating disorder care to over €14m each year.
Minister Butler’s announcement takes place during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, an annual campaign to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide support to individuals and loved ones impacted by eating disorders.
Minister Butler said:
“I am really pleased to confirm new eating disorder teams for the South East based in Waterford and for Galway/Roscommon. These multidisciplinary teams will support children and adults with eating disorders, working to assess people’s needs, diagnose eating disorders, and commence person-centred treatment based on a variety of evidence-based interventions.
“Eating disorder teams have greatly supported early recognition of eating disorders in Ireland, and are providing swifter access to specialist services, with 75% of patients being assessed within eight weeks. We have built real momentum in rolling out services, with adult services now covering 14 counties and CAMHS eating disorder services now covering seven counties, and coverage will increase significantly this year as the remaining five funded teams are recruited.”
By early 2027, all 16 teams will be fully operational.
Minister Butler also welcomed data from the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders for 2025 which shows increases in activity across referrals, assessments, diagnoses and access to treatment. In 2025, over 900 referrals were received, with a 13% increase in the number of people starting treatment for an eating disorder. Specialist eating disorder training for HSE staff also increased in 2025, with ‘Family Based Therapy’ training provided to 250 clinicians last year.
Minister Butler is also prioritising the development of three regional adult Eating Disorder Inpatient Centres through the HSE’s Capital Plan, to provide improved access to specialist public beds in Cork, Dublin and the North West. The new facilities will provide specialist inpatient eating disorder care closer to home for people who are acutely unwell and reduce the HSE’s current reliance on private placements.
The Minister concluded:
“Improving access to these specialist services is an absolute priority for me, and I know there is more to be done as we work to complete the rollout of the National Clinical Programme. I will continue efforts to ensure additional investment in eating disorder supports to make sure that care is delivered where and when needed, including both community based and inpatient care.
“I have discussed the need to review the Model of Care for Eating Disorders with the National Clinical Advisor for Mental Health Services and I am keen we begin the review as soon as is appropriate following the roll out of the funded teams. Reviewing the Model of Care will include the voices of people with lived experience, ensure that our eating disorder services evolve in line with international best practice, and identify where additional programme capacity is required.
“I am determined to build on the progress made with the Programme to date to deliver quality eating disorder services to people who need them, and the two new additional teams I have announced today will make a big difference in achieving that objective.”