Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Michael Hughes, a perfectly innocent young man from Banagher, lost his life in a horrific attack in Dublin. This is an appalling tragedy and, in their grief, his parents stated that they would pray for the perpetrator of the crime. Last year, we were told €25 million extra was being allocated for the provision of mental health services and for provisions within the Mental Health Act.

The mental health amendment Bill is on the Order Paper at No. 49 and is not due for publication until 2008. Will the Taoiseach confirm that, given these horrific consequences, the €25 million allocated last year is still in situ for spending on the provision of mental health services and has not been hived off or siphoned off to other areas? Will the Taoiseach confirm when he expects the mental health amendment Bill to be published?

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