Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree at all with what the Deputy said and there is much common sense in it because we should focus on the merits of the issue rather than frivolities or otherwise of people getting stuck in lifts. There is a message in this for the media and those who pander to them with simplistic commentary rather than detailed policy work. The Deputy is right to say that even with the cutbacks there has been a renewed commitment on funding on the part of the Government, and the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, in particular has taken a huge interest in this area. Fair is fair and in circumstances where cuts have occurred a special allocation of an additional €35 million was made last year. Our commitment was to have an additional 414 places. As of now, 307 of these are in place and a commitment has been given that the great majority of the remaining number will be in place in a matter of weeks. I understand the 2013 budget also contains a commitment that an additional €35 million would be put in place to allow these additional posts to be filled.

Even in very difficult times when budgets are being cut this is an area where budgets are expanding because we recognise there has been a real deficit in the number of trained personnel working in the area. I expect, because of the notes I have in front of me, these people will be in place by March this year. This will represent an increase of €70 million over the past two years and an additional 800 posts over a longer period of time. Slowly but surely we are beginning to recognise the need for proper mental health services, as the Deputy has rightly said. Even in difficult times we can still do this. I am sure the Deputy and others will encourage the Minister to get even bigger budgets and have a larger number of supporting personnel. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there is an issue with regard to how developments in this area will have a practical impact throughout the HSE service and this is something of which we need to be very mindful. We should not have doctrinaire ideological views on something if evidence shows a better system, or at least a more flexible system, needs to be put in place. We need to be mindful of this and change policy accordingly.

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