Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mental Health Ireland, which is representing mental health reform. I am a Senator based in Ballinasloe, which is very much a rural area. Mental health is a huge issue in our area, as is protecting people and making sure they are safe. I read through the submissions and looked at the website. We speak a lot about waiting lists. I am very interested in how we are using innovation to tackle these. The witnesses probably have a number of ideas on this. I posed a question to the Minister on what projects are being done by the e-health section in the HSE that are focused on mental health. Do the witnesses have any ideas on this? We are seeing the largest budget ever for mental health. It will be approximately €1.1 billion this year. It is the largest budget in Irish history for mental health services. It is focused on capital infrastructure and building acute 50-bed units. We need to see more of them. In Roscommon we just have Roscommon University Hospital with a 22-bed unit. We need more in community healthcare west. Some early intervention steps have been taken, such as the community crisis cafe set up in Galway. I am curious to hear the thoughts of the witnesses on this. I believe it is very important, along with ideas such as telehealth. How will we use technology to reduce waiting lists?

With regard to the point made by Deputy Crowe, the submission mentioned the cross-focus between various Departments. Healthy Ireland in the public health section of the Department of Health involves local authorities. "Make a Moove" was an initiative in north Tipperary in an area close to mine. It tackled mental health in farming and how to engage with the cohort of farming families. I want to highlight Men's Shed, which is crucial. There is a very good one in Ballaghaderreen in Roscommon. Pat Towey is excellent. It is a great way to connect communities in rural areas, particularly for older men who sometimes are isolated, particularly over the past year or two.