205. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has received the University of Limerick evaluation of the CAST pilot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38238/26]
206. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of callouts the CAST team responded to between January 2025 and May 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38239/26]
207. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of individuals successfully diverted from custody to acute psychiatric care via the CAST initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38240/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 207, inclusive, together.

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.

CAST enhances 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 be beneficial for vulnerable people in Limerick.

As part of the original workplan, an evaluation of CAST will be finalised this year by the University of Limerick. The pilot will be evaluated under a number of key pillars, and will provide an evidence base that will help inform next steps, including any potential national rollout of this model of care, as appropriate. The recommendations from the evaluation will be considered by my Department and the Department of Health alongside key stakeholders.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the total number of recorded incidents associated with the CAST team now stands at 1,266. This covers a wide range of incidents including Mental Health Detentions, Attentions and Complaints (Call-back incidents), Domestic Incidents, Assaults, etc.

It should be noted that the CAST model is specifically designed to divert individuals away from custody settings and Emergency Departments or acute psychiatric admission, wherever it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so. The emphasis is on managing individuals in a community setting in a more therapeutic, person-centred manner, thereby preventing unnecessary escalation to Section 12 detainment or hospital-based interventions.

I am further advised that, from 13 January 2025 to May 2026, the CAST unit in Limerick Division has recorded a total of 181 Diversions from section 12 detainment. These diversions represent instances where individuals in acute distress were safely managed through a health-led, community-based response rather than being brought into custody or conveyed to an Emergency Department.

Question No. 206 answered with Question No. 205.

Question No. 207 answered with Question No. 205.