Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

We are here debating this issue, but when the Dáil was not sitting in January, the media highlighted the lack of services for people suffering from cystic fibrosis. Orla Tinsley's wonderful article in The Irish Times probably sparked the whole debate. It is appalling that the Government and the HSE only react when the media raises an issue. The saddest thing about all those stories is that they involve young people suffering from cystic fibrosis who know that if they were living in another jurisdiction their quality of life and life expectancy would improve. These young people just do not know what the next infection will bring for them.

The media highlighted the case of 12 year old Ann-Marie Kelleher last week, who is suffering from Rett syndrome and scoliosis. There was a reaction from a private donor, who volunteered to pay for her operation in the UK, but all of a sudden the HSE found the funding and provided the services she needs under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. It is a sad day for the Government when it only reacts to what is highlighted by the media. That is no way to run a health service.

There has been an asset stripping of our mental health services and a lack of funding that should have been in place for 2006 and 2007. We now have no funding for 2008. The National Suicide Prevention Office does not have sufficient funding this year. We have no psychiatric bed facilities for young people. There have been stories of young people in adult wards. The situation is appalling and we badly need investment. The amendment the Government is asking us to support is an insult. The last paragraph asks us to acknowledge co-location and the fact it is providing beds in the system. What are private hospitals on public grounds going to do for those who are suffering from cystic fibrosis and those who are suffering mental health problems? It will do absolutely nothing for them and it is an insult to throw that paragraph into the Government's amendment.

I support the motion tabled by Deputy Reilly. We need investment in mental health services, especially community services. I listened to a woman last week telling me that she was discharged from psychiatric services but that there was no community service and no come back. Nobody was supporting her or ringing her to find out how she was getting on. Nobody even knew where she was going when she left the hospital. That is a revolving door system and the woman will be back again from the lack of support and services in our community. We need urgent action in this area and we certainly do not need the neglect that has been evident from this Government.

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