Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I take heart from the fact that the Department is studying Mr. Mendez's report and will issue its findings on it. It is, however, difficult to accept much of what the Minister of State had to say about budget cuts and the moratorium on recruitment given the issue of mental health has not suddenly appeared on our agenda. This issue has not been a priority for any of the parties, including Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party, in Government since 1984, although it has become a priority in recent times.

What was promised in 2012 did not materialise. The fear in the mental health setting is that the same will happen in 2013. The point that must be made is that political will alone has not worked when it comes to the provision of mental health services. A different approach is now needed, which could be provided by way of enactment of legislation to provide that the HSE is obliged to account for progress in this area and for the production of regular transparent reports in this regard, including to this House. It is important also there is development of mental health services for people with an intellectual disability. I ask that these proposals be taken on board. As they are included in the report, I presume the HSE will respond to them.

Spending on community mental health has been static at 27%. Spending on residential care has been consistently 58%. I acknowledge the opening of the Phoenix Care Centre, which I attended. I was disturbed by the attention of the media on that occasion to the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, being stuck in a lift rather than on that amazing facility. The opening of that facility presented an opportunity to look at the whole area of mental health in a much more progressive manner rather than on the mishap in the lift.

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