56. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide an update on future funding of the CAST pilot in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35711/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: A key recommendation of the High Level Task Force on mental health and addiction was the establishment of a Community Access Support Team (CAST) to divert those experiencing situational trauma or a mental health crisis away from the criminal justice system and towards the healthcare system. The CAST project is a partnership pilot between An Garda Síochána, and the Mental Health Services of HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare, which is currently being trialled in the Limerick Garda Division.

The CAST team are working to enhance diversionary practices for those experiencing crisis and situational trauma leading to mental health difficulties, with the shared goal of providing a compassionate and effective response to people in distress. The pilot became operational in January 2025 and is generally understood to have made a significant contribution towards has been beneficial for vulnerable people in Limerick.

As part of the original workplan, an evaluation of CAST will be finalised this year which will provide an evidence base that will help inform next steps, including any potential rollout of this model of care as appropriate nationally in the future. The recommendations from the evaluation will be considered by my Department and the Department of Health alongside key stakeholders.