Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Cullinane mentioned psychiatric services in the south east. I will not go over the issue of juvenile services again. It is a disgrace that we do not have a juvenile psychiatrist. My constituency is in the south east and includes Kilkenny and Waterford. We do not have a juvenile psychiatry service in the south east. If a young person has a problem and it is addressed early there is less expense on the HSE, the country and the taxpayer but the five counties in the south east have no psychiatric service for under 18s. I will not dwell on it.

I want to ask about psychiatric services for adults in St. Luke's in Kilkenny. This week a strike was averted by management which was planned because of overcrowding of the psychiatric unit in St. Luke's where there are 44 beds in two units. I raised the issue in the Dáil. The strike has been called off. It is the second time a strike has been threatened by SIPTU workers as a result of the overcrowded conditions. They had to say they would not work in the system that was in place. I am told a bed management officer is needed for the south east, including Wexford, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary. That would be an officer to manage the beds. There is also a unit promised for Clonmel to relieve the pressure on Kilkenny. The same is required in Wexford and Waterford. Has the HSE a plan for psychiatric services in the south east, both juvenile and adult? I am speaking in particular about St. Luke's and the unit there that is overcrowded.