A rare look inside one of Dublin's most well-known psychiatric hospitals, St Ita's in Portrane, is among the factual programmes included in RTÉ's autumn schedule, it was announced yesterday.
The State-owned broadcaster describes the programme, called The Asylum, as a "landmark observational series" which allows viewers to witness the lives and changing modes of Irish people suffering from mental illness. The station said the four programmes would be "frank, sensitive and sometimes profound".
The station may also encounter some controversy with a gritty drama series called Pure Mule which is set "in contemporary, rural Ireland".
According to the station, in the unnamed midlands town featured, the young people are not rich, "but they have the money to spend their weekends drinking and doing E". The main characters sleep around and one 25-year-old is a "figure of fun" for being a virgin. "Even his mother is embarrassed," states the summary of the show circulated by RTÉ.
The programme is shot on location in Banagher, Co Offaly, and is written by Eugene O'Brien.
Overall RTÉ plans to provide 1,400 hours of new and repeat home production to the Irish viewing public in the autumn. Noel Curran, the managing director of RTÉ television, said: "Irish programmes for Irish people. That's what RTÉ television provides the Irish viewing public." He said nine out of the top 10 were still broadcast by RTÉ.
He said several series were returning because of popular appeal, including Killinaskully, Tubridy Tonight, The Clinic, The Health Squad, Vets on Call, Prime Time Investigates and The Late Late Show.
Another highlight, said the station, would be The Mentor, an eight-part series which features several Irish businesses across a range of sectors. Among the programme presenters will be restaurant owner Jay Bourke.
Independent TV company Mint Productions will be revisiting the children's hospital in Crumlin, which was the subject of an observational series two years ago.
"The new series will catch up with contributors from the first series, as well as introducing new patients and staff," said RTÉ.
The endless frustrations of modern dating will be explored in a programme featuring Limerick comedian Karl Spain. In the programme the comedian heads off on "an emotional and comical journey through the romantic obstacle course of modern dating".