Private independent mental health services typically offer a better level of care than HSE-run facilities.
The Mental Health Commission's latest annual report says a "select number of people" with health insurance or financial means are able to access the highest-performing centres.
However, the one HSE area that scored higher than those centres in their newly-published 2021 report, was CHO 5, which covers Waterford, Carlow/Kilkenny, South Tipperary, and Wexford.
The watchdog is calling for significant State investment to make sure everyone has access to a similar standard of mental health care, regardless of their income.
Commission CEO, John Farrelly, says the gap between private and public care is far too wide:
"To become an inpatient means that you are at the lowest that you will ever be in your life.
"It's not fair that the independent, private centres have this high standard in their buildings and in patient-centred services and a lot of the HSE centres don't.
"So, it's quite simple that the HSE and how it manages its mental health service really needs to focus on the job to ensure all citizens in Ireland receive appropriate care."
Regarding the HSE centres, the report found that inadequate resourcing and poor governance arrangements were the main areas of concern.
Mr Farrelly says serious investment is needed:
"We look at Cork, for example; the facilities just aren't good enough.
"There needs to be a strategic, funded plan to invest in the HSE services but the HSE also needs to make sure that they're using that money wisely and keeping the buildings up-to-date.
"And then the HSE needs to come up to the standards of the independent sector.
"It needs to actually start delivering that on the ground to make sure all patients all over Ireland receive these services."
