Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the health information Bill, is the Minister really aware of the crisis in the disability services and the mental health services? I listened to the Minister’s comments earlier. There have been major cuts in day services for people with intellectual disabilities and cuts in respite places, particularly in July and August. Will the Minister give me the information and ensure that the services for people with intellectual and physical disabilities are not cut for July and August?

Several psychiatric patients, who are at risk, are regularly on the streets of our city. They need beds. We need between 300 and 400 beds yet the Minister told us this morning that everything was hunky dory and gave out figures. There is a crisis in the front-line services and the Government needs to wake up to that reality and do something. Ministers should not come in here and talk about resources when over the next six months the Government will throw money in tax cuts at the wealthier sections of society but will not provide simple things like residential respite services and services for people with mental illness.

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