Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his flexibility in affording Members an opportunity to contribute to this extremely important debate and I compliment my colleague, Deputy Browne, on bringing forward this Bill. I understand it has all-party support, which indicates this is one area in which all parties can work together to enhance the service and bring about real and meaningful reforms.

I am struck by the fact that Members are talking about mental health services again. It was one of the first topics debated following the election and we had statements in the Chamber in March of last year. There has been no noticeable improvement in the service, unfortunately. In fact, there are certain services in certain areas where there has been a decline and this is a consequence of the State failing to provide the necessary resources. In certain instances in which there are State failures, local charity groups take up the slack. An organisation called Good 2 Talk provides a service in Mullingar and in Longford. After the revelations about Console the consequence was that its money was pulled because there rightly was a crackdown on how money was allocated to a charity that was not doing its work, to put it mildly. However, other charities and community groups established in other areas have suffered negative consequences. I understood from the Minister's predecessor that a review was to take place to investigate where we would get the best value for our money and what services were providing good services and would continue to be supported into the future.

Where is that review? When will it be completed and when will services know and have the confidence that they will be funded for some years into the future? It is very bad practice that the State, which should provide these services, leaves these providers waiting till the middle or end of the year before they know how much money they will get. We should see a more streamlined approach to services which are doing invaluable work, engaging and intervening at very critical stages. They need the support of the State.

I welcome the fact we are debating this area today, that it was one of the first debates after the last election and that we have had many Private Member's motions and debates on it. That is positive and removes the stigma from mental health problems, but unless there are tangible benefits, the people who need access to the services can get access to them, and we radically reduce the waiting times and increase their availability to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we will be failing. There are many who need the services and cannot afford private therapy. They are left waiting too long.

I wish the Minister of State luck in his role and ask him to make sure the extra money committed to the service in the programme for Government for next year will be given, that it goes to the people who need it most and that he works with the community groups, who do invaluable work, to make a difference to the people who rely on the service.

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