A 13 per cent increase in the number of people starting treatment for an eating disorder was recorded in 2025, according to Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler.
Last year, over 900 referrals were received and 600 assessments completed, with a 13 per cent increase in the number of people starting treatment, the Minister stated. Some 75 per cent of patients were assessed within eight weeks.
In total, 475 children, adolescents and adults were attending teams at the end of 2025, the Minister added. The data was supplied by the HSE National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders.
Three new regional centres providing 22 adult inpatient beds will be in place within the next six years, stated the Minister.
Currently, only three public beds are available for adults and this resource pre-dates the launch of the HSE Model of Care for Eating Disorders in 2018.
According to Minister Butler, 19 new public adult beds will be created under plans to develop the three new inpatient centres. Provision for the centres is included in the HSE Capital Plan.
The centres will be supported by funding from the €470 million allocated to mental health under the National Development Plan for the period 2026–2032.
They will be developed in Cork, Dublin and the north-west, it is understood.
The roll-out of the National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders is progressing, Minister Butler added, with the 16 eating disorder teams outlined in the model of care now fully funded.
“This includes 11 teams which are operational, a further three teams in recruitment, and two teams in development. I have doubled investment on dedicated eating disorders services to €14 million annually, compared to just €1.6 million in 2016 and €6 million when I assumed my role as Minister for Mental Health six budgets ago,” she stated.
“Approximately 110 dedicated eating disorder clinicians from the programme are now working on specialist teams across the country, treating people with eating disorders every day.”
She added that funding secured in Budget 2026 will allow for the establishment of two new teams: A child and adolescent mental health services team serving the south-east, and an adult team serving counties Galway and Roscommon.
She said this will improve access to specialist mental healthcare for people living with eating disorders.
The Minister was responding to recent parliamentary questions on the topic.
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