Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Millions of euro which were allocated by the Government for legitimate objectives and targets in the palliative care area have disappeared. In other words, the money is not being spent for the purpose for which it was allocated.

That is not the only area in which this has happened. The provision of mental health services is an issue that has been raised by Deputy Neville on many occasions. Between 2006 and 2007, €50 million was allocated by the Government for the implementation of its mental health policy, A Vision for Change, but that money has not been spent accordingly. The losers in this case are persons suffering from mental illness throughout the State who are desperately trying to access psychiatric services. We are all aware of tragic cases which occurred in the last 12 to 15 months where people were unable to access psychiatric services, with tragic consequences either for themselves or others.

In the case of both palliative care and mental health services, money allocated for legitimate objectives by the Government was not spent for that purpose. The Taoiseach allocated that money and somebody took it away. The Minister for Health and Children has said on more than one occasion that it is wrong to spend money if we do not know where it is going. Why is it that in these two cases, money allocated was not spent for the purpose for which it was intended? Why was it diverted and on whose authority was that done?

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