Shortage of psychiatrists ‘delays trials’ - solicitor

A SHORTAGE of psychiatrists to compile reports on accused persons before the courts is leading to delays in trials, a solicitor has claimed.

Maurice Regan told Trim Circuit Court that a family he was representing had to pay for a report themselves because there were no psychiatrists available within the country to draw up reports within the Free Legal Aid Scheme. That report cost them €3,500.

He said that the problem has arisen through the introduction of new tendering rules which dictate that three tenders must be sought

for a report.

Regan told Trim Circuit Court that the psychiatrists were not responding to tendering requests because the fees on offer were “not adequate”.

“It is just not worth their while tendering. They are being asked to provide a consultant's report yet they are being paid local rates. This is not a money making machine - but they need to be paid a reasonable amount for what is a very important job”, he said.

He maintained there was a lot of work involved in compiling a report.

The psychiatrist had to go through a book of evidence, order disclosure, have to look at background information, decide how many people they have to consult with such as other professionals treating the person and take up hospital records. In order to prepare a proper quotation they have to do a body of work "for which they may never be paid", the solicitor said.

"There have to be proper resources available for psychiatric services in this country. As it stands the main provider of psychiatric services is the Prison Service. They do their absolute best, they are fantastic people but they haven't got the resources to deal with situations properly".

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said there was currently a shortage of psychiatrists available to undertake these reports.

"Where the report sought is for an individual in receipt of criminal legal aid, there is no delay involved in the processing of the said report under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, with approval provided on average within 15 working days.

“However, on the matter of the production of these reports there is currently a shortage of psychiatrists available to undertake them and the Department is cognisant of the difficulty this is causing in the progression of some criminal trials. This can be an issue for both the defence and prosecution".

The department said it was working with the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Department of Health and the National Forensic Mental Health Service to identify a resolution to the issue.

- Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme