Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the 400 additional beds to be opened for the winter. The introduction of evening discharges would also be helpful. I also welcome the €74 million in additional funding for the fair deal scheme and the designation of the Hollybrook centre in the Inchicore-Kilmainham, Dublin 8 area as a nursing home.

The roll-out of GP cards for children under six years of age has been a huge success. It is a welcome relief to my children, all of whom have young families, that they do not have to pay €60 to a doctor every time one of their children gets sick. What takes away from all of the good news in this area is the unacceptable mental health service waiting lists. I agree with Deputy Ó Caoláin's remarks on this issue. A young nephew of mine was recently diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome. His parents had to jump through many hoops to get him into the mental health service. Having scoured the Internet for information and so on about his illness, they are now able to make sense of it. It is difficult and challenging for parents when a child is in difficulty and they are unable to help him or her. That there are 146-plus children in this category is unacceptable.

I would like to comment briefly on the development of the two centres at Cashel Road and Cherry Orchard and the staff required in that regard, as outlined in the Minister's report. As a representative for this area, I welcome the opening of these centres but I am concerned about the effect on them of the reduction in nursing, allied health professional and administrative staff.

On the BCG vaccination, I have been contacted by many young parents expressing concern at the lengthy waiting times, often up to nine months, for this vaccination. It would be helpful if young mothers were provided with additional information in this regard. Having to wait six or seven months for a baby to receive the BCG vaccination is a cause of anxiety for young mothers. Reference is made in the report to other countries not having a BCG vaccination programme. That is irrelevant to the mother of a new baby. I would welcome a response from the Minister.