Bodywhys – The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland – welcomes the recent announcement by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, regarding continued investment in the expansion of the HSE National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCP-ED). This includes the establishment of two new specialist eating disorder teams — one CAMHS team and one adult team.

We also acknowledge the funding announced to support the opening of ten dedicated CAMHS beds at the new National Children’s Hospital, as well as the reopening of eleven CAMHS beds at Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit in West Dublin.

We await further updates regarding the allocation of adult inpatient eating disorder beds and the projected timelines for implementation.

Harriet Parsons, Chief Executive Officer at Bodywhys, said:

“Eating disorders remain an increasing concern across both hospital and community-based services. As of 2025, fourteen specialist eating disorder teams are funded — eleven are operational and providing vital treatment services nationwide, and three are in active recruitment.

The recent allocation of funding for two additional teams in 2026 will bring the total number to sixteen, aligning with the recommendations set out in the 2018 HSE National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders Model of Care.

The commitment outlined in Budget 2026 to strengthen eating disorder services, in accordance with the Model of Care, underpins our shared goal of ensuring that people affected by eating disorders, and their families, can access timely, specialist services in their own locality, without delay.

It is vital that these commitments are implemented effectively to achieve tangible improvements on the ground, including better access, reduced waiting times, and continuity of care across all regions.

As community services expand their capacity, the demand for Bodywhys support services continues to grow. In 2024, we observed a 25% increase in families utilising our family support services compared to 2023. Securing appropriate funding to meet this growing demand is crucial, particularly within our support services department.

We look forward to continued collaboration with the HSE National Clinical Programme as a key partner — providing ongoing training for specialist teams and supporting individuals affected by eating disorders and families at every stage, from early intervention through to recovery.’