The use of mechanical restraint at one of the country's child and adolescent mental health centres has been described as "a worrying development" by the Mental Health Commission.
An inspection of Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Dublin last year found mechanical restraint in the form of soft cuffs were used.
The use of mechanical restraint is confined to adult mental health services nationally and in transportation to and from the Central Mental Hospital in limited circumstances.
The Mental Health Commission's Inspector Dr Susan Finnerty has described it as "a worrying development" and said international guidelines strongly recommended against mechanical restraint in children.
The Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is an in-patient unit located on the Cherry Orchard Hospital campus in Ballyfermot.
The facility caters for young people under the age of 18 and has a capacity of 24.
The service received an overall rating of 92% in the inspection which was conducted in July 2020 - a slight decrease on its compliance rating of 94% in 2019.
The Mental Health Commisison has noted Linn Dara's consistent high compliance rate over several years.
The inspection report is one of three that have been published this morning by the MHC.
Another concerns the Carraig Mór centre in Cork, where the HSE came to an agreement with the Mental Health Commission at Cork District Court recently to reduce the number of residents in the facility until remedial works are completed.
An inspection of Carraig Mór in Shanakiel last October found that residents' privacy was not always appropriately respected.
Following a process of regulatory escalation initiated by the MHC, it agreed with the HSE that the number of available beds at Carraig Mór would be reduced from 18 to 10 immediately, with further bed reductions in due course.
This arrangement according to the Commission will support improved privacy, dignity and safety issues for residents while critical and necessary construction works to upgrade the unit are ongoing.
The HSE has given an undertaking to progress this work as part of an accelerated development programme at the centre.
The third report relates to the Vergemount Mental Health Facility which is located in the grounds of Clonskeagh Hospital in south Dublin.
Whitethorn House provides the continuing care of adults with "enduring mental health needs" and Le Brun House, under the psychiatry of later life team.
The approved centre was registered for 52 residents but had 29 residents at the time of inspection in July 2020.
The centre had an overall compliance rating of 63% on inspection, a reduction of 16% on its 2019 compliance rating.
The inspector found therapeutic services including social work, psychology, dietetics and speech and language therapy, were "limited in supply and insufficient".
Therapeutic services were not directed at restoring and maintaining optimal levels of physical and psychosocial functioning of residents according to the Commission.
The number and skill mix of staff were insufficient to meet resident needs.
