Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

It is important that mental health is covered by the directorate. I take the Minister's assurance that such will be the case but down the road who is to know what will happen with a different Minister? Approximately 12 months ago the HSE transferred acute inpatient psychiatric services from south Tipperary to another hospital and we are now finding that the two hospitals, south Tipperary and Kilkenny, will be in two different networks. That seems an odd situation and it might have helped if there was a director of mental health. It is an important provision. I accept the Minister's assurance but I wonder what would happen under a different Minister with a different view.