Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 19 September 2024

Committee on Drugs Use

Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (Resumed)

9:30 am

Dr. Diarmuid Quinlan:

I will take the first one. I agree with what the Senator says about mental health. We have broadened to mental health in primary care. I and my colleagues are resourced to provide care for people with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart failure and so on. There is currently no resourcing at all in primary care for mental health illness. Depression, anxiety and psychotic illness are not resourced in general practice. When it is not resourced, inevitably it is competing for limited availability of GP time and space with areas that are resourced. We have the capacity to provide enhanced mental health service in primary care, but we need resourcing. We have heard a lot about the contraceptive piece in the last while, but there is no resourcing for mental health in primary care. That is a fundamental-----