Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cheann Comhairle as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom an cheist thábhachtach seo a ardú inniu. Is trua gur gá dúinn teacht go dtí an Teach seo chun na ceisteanna seo a ardú. Ba chóir go ndéileálfaí leo roimh ré. I represent the constituency of Dublin South-Central, which is an urban area in great need. This fact is recognised by the Government in its official designation of the majority of this area as a RAPID area requiring increased investment because of the depravation and poverty existing there. Drugs task forces operate there and high rates of homelessness are also a feature. All these factors demonstrably lead to an increased risk of mental illness and an increased concentration of those with mental illness in need of care and assistance in the area. The location of a major hospital in the area is another factor for consideration.

The area is the second most densely populated deprived area in the State. In spite of that, funding for mental health services for this community is the lowest in the State, which is a scandal. This matter needs to be both exposed and addressed. We cannot allow the situation to continue any longer.

I wish to focus on the chronic underfunding of mental health services at St. James's Hospital, which up to now served just the Dublin 8 area but in recent months has also begun to serve the Drimnagh area. The underfunding of the hospital is criminal. The area has only half the per capita funding of a similar sized rural area such as that of Cavan and Monaghan. Parts of Galway receive three times the funding received by this area.

An under-resourced service such as this cannot properly deal with its workload. Adding to it another under-resourced area such as Drimnagh further exacerbates the problem which was already at crisis point. Doctors at St. James's Hospital have said an additional €2.5 million is required just to maintain the service as it was prior to the amalgamation because of the previous shortfall in funding. The needs of the Drimnagh area were added to that of an already struggling service without the provision of an additional psychologist, occupational therapist or rehabilitation service. Neither is there any assertiveness outreach or supportive accommodation. Drimnagh lost out in the amalgamation, as did the mental health services at St. James's Hospital because no additional funding was given to ensure the service could expand. As a result of the lack of resources prior to the amalgamation with the Drimnagh area, the entire area has lost out.

The South Western Area Health Board has less acute psychiatric beds than any other health board. Tallaght Hospital is also in need of more in-patient beds. If the beds issue is not addressed, there will be a shortfall in the capacity to deliver the comprehensive service that is required. The current threshold demands a population of 25,000 before a psychiatrist is provided. All health professionals agree that figure should not be adhered to in deprived urban areas and that more psychiatrists should be provided in those areas.

The chronic under-provision and underfunding of mental health services is a major human rights issue and is the subject of an Amnesty International campaign. I demand to know what plans the Government has to rectify the situation, particularly in the Dublin 8, Drimnagh service.

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