Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, I will not be able to answer some of the specific questions that have been asked. I was just asked to take the Topical Issue. I know this is not helpful to all the Deputies here. I do, however, want to make a few points.

I have not spoken with the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, or the HSE on this matter but I will ensure that if the service has to close, everything possible will be done by the HSE and the Minister of State to ensure that those people have a place to go to. I am very much aware of the whole situation around mental health and services, especially for families who are caught up in a service that may not be around after next Friday. The Deputies have raised an urgent concern. The Minister of State has made it very clear that she will do everything possible to ensure that people are facilitated if the closure goes ahead. We must wait and see because there is no point in jumping the gun. We must afford an opportunity to the HSE to respond. Deputy Howlin explained that the HSE had already met the commission in January. I assure the Deputy that I had not known this while coming in to the House, so I thank him for that information.

I agree with the Deputies that is a very serious matter. The situation needs to be corrected - as anybody who has someone suffering from mental health issues will understand - particularly in the context of people with serious mental health issues being turned away from accident and emergency departments due to lack of beds. I am very sorry that I cannot give more specific answers.

I will relay the messages back to the Department, the Minister and the HSE.

See this speech in context