John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also wish the Minister of State well in his new position, as well as complimenting my colleague, Deputy Browne, on bringing forward this Bill and on the excellent work he is doing. It is appropriate that the Minister of State is flanked by Deputy Neville, whose father ploughed a lone furrow for many years on this issue. This must be recognised in this House.

It is important that we get this issue into primary schools. It is both an education and a health issue and we must integrate education and health. We should look seriously at making mental well-being a compulsory part of the primary school curriculum because this issue needs to be tackled at a very early age and there is no better place than primary school. I would like this to progress. Possibly the relevant committee could look at those processes.

As a member of the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare, I note that mental health formed a very large part of its report. Some of the submissions we received were appropriate and pertinent.

The submission of Galway Early Years is that one of the most effective ways of tackling the mental health epidemic now and for future generations is to focus on improving mental health from the very beginning, given how significant this period is in laying the psychological foundations of later life. Another submission came from Children in Hospitals Ireland. In recent years, despite the publication of A Vision for Change, mental health services for children have not shown any notable improvement. A submission from Mental Health Reform represented the views of particular groups, including the homeless, those with a co-morbid diagnosis of mental health difficulties and intellectual disability and those with a dual diagnosis of mental health difficulties and substance misuse experience significant challenges in assessing appropriate care. That is a snapshot of the difficulties that exist. All Members know they exist. Our job is to fund and co-ordinate a proper level of integrated services with money being spent wisely. People have come to my constituency clinics seeking counselling for their children who are on six-month waiting lists. When a child presents with a mental health issue, that need is immediate and must be tackled. There are many very good organisations such as Jigsaw, Pieta House and so on which do excellent work but they need to be co-ordinated and linked in. It is the job of the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care and the House to ensure that happens.

The EU average percentage spend on mental health is that approximately 12% of the mental health budget goes to mental health facilities while in Ireland it is half that figure. That needs to be increased. If the Government invests in this area, there will be significant savings in the system further up the line because hospitalisations and so on will be prevented.

I agree wholeheartedly with the point made by Deputy Kelly regarding positions and vacancies. A constituent of mine is a qualified counsellor who studied as a mature student and cannot get a position in the HSE despite being told that it is crying out for counsellors.

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