HSE and Gardaí launch joint mental health initiative in Limerick

A PILOT initiative aimed at assisting people who are experiencing situational trauma or a mental health crisis was launched today in Limerick city. 

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, and Minister for Law Reform, International Law, and Youth Justice, James Browne launched the national pilot initiative.

The project, entitled Community Access Support Team (CAST), is a partnership between An Garda Síochána and Mental Health Services Health Service Executive (HSE) Mid-West Community Healthcare. 

The initiative will be trialled in the Limerick Garda Division.

Supported by the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, the pilot will work on intervention, prevention, and outreach, to yield better outcomes for people experiencing a mental health crisis or situational trauma. 

The pilot project aims to provide a better experience for the individual in crisis or situational trauma and their families, delivering support and intervention at the right time, right place and with the appropriate service.

The CAST team will be based at Henry Street Garda Station and will aim to reduce future presentations and interactions with Gardaí or other blue light emergency services, through community follow-ups and more sustained engagement by relevant services with people in a mental health crisis.

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler said: “I welcome this new and innovative CAST Pilot Project between An Garda Síochána and the HSE here in Limerick. This joint initiative will bring more focused inter-agency care as envisaged under our national mental health policy Sharing the Vision and the Final Report of the High-Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction”.

“A key priority will be to divert a small but highly vulnerable group within our society away from prison and towards the healthcare system. The Pilot Project is designed to reduce stigma and promote recovery for those that avail of mental health support services. I was particularly pleased to learn that those with lived experience contributed to developing the Pilot,” she continued.

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“This project exemplifies the commitment of Government to improve all aspects of our Mental Health Services, which was reinforced by the record funding of nearly €1.5billion that I secured for Mental Health under Budget 2025,” Minister Butler added.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice for Law Reform, International Law, and Youth Justice, James Browne said: “The launch of the Community Access Support Team (CAST) marks a significant step forward on the progress of recommendations set out by the High-Level Task Force and the Commission of the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI)”.

“This pilot, encompassing intervention, prevention, and outreach, is the first of its kind for Ireland. When a relevant 999 call has been triaged, the on-scene response brings together members of An Garda Siochana, the HSE and the wider CAST Team. This approach reflects the shared goal of providing a compassionate and effective response to people in distress, and by offering the right support when it is most needed, reducing the likelihood of future offending and building safer communities overall,” he continued.

“Over the duration of the pilot, we will continue to support the integration and collaboration across the services operating in the Limerick Garda Division and to gather the research to further understand the needs of those who interact with the criminal justice system.”

The CAST project is based on significant international evidence and experience demonstrating improved outcomes for adults requiring the intervention of a policing response at times of a mental health crisis or situational trauma.

An initiative under A Policing Service for the Future, it follows extensive engagement between An Garda Síochána and the HSE with Crisis Intervention Team members in other countries, and those with lived experience of engaging with the Gardaí at times of a mental health crisis.