Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am absolutely delighted to hear this news. For the Kildare people who use the services and their families, as well as the staff at Lakeview unit, this is really good news. The fact that the physical design will be updated - making it a brighter building and a better place for people to be treated in and to work in - is also very welcome, as is the addition of eight new units. I am really glad that construction will commence next year. Will there be disruption to bed space in the two-year period during which this work will be undertaken? What are the plans for the interim period? I am glad about the commitment to more appropriate step-down facilities because these have to be part of the whole picture of treating mental issues. The funding for staff is really good too. I acknowledge the very good work done by Hope(d) locally and by the Samaritans and many other community groups in the area which are really struggling to support positive mental health, particularly among young people, as best they can. Generally, this is really good news and I welcome it.

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