Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Does Mr. Walsh accept that the area he is covering is very wide? It includes community services and mental health services. That is a wide area of responsibility. Is there a need for focus? One issue that has been lost in many debates is that the population of this country has increased by 1.5 million in 23 years. It has gone up from 3.8 million in 2000 to 5.2 million. That is an increase of almost 1.5 million or of 40%. We have not increased services by 40% in many areas, especially in mental health. Is now the time to allow someone to focus purely on mental health and for him or her not to be sidelined by all the other health demands? In fairness, Mr. Walsh has a huge portfolio to look after.