Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Do I infer from his remarks that it was completely inappropriate to place 247 children in adult psychiatric units? The psychiatric profession has expressed concerns in respect of this matter for some time. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State made a commitment with regard to this matter. His predecessors in the Department made commitments in respect of four areas that were identified in A Vision for Change. One of those areas is Limerick, to which the Minister of State did not refer in his reply. The mid-west is in urgent need of facilities similar to those provided in Cork, Galway and Dublin. Will the Minister of State comment on the information emanating from Temple St. Children's University Hospital to the effect that children as young as five years of age are attempting suicide and engaging in self-harm?

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