Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My question is a serious one. It is about the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017. The Taoiseach will know that hundreds of young people are in some form of mental health distress and are on waiting lists to see a psychiatrist. Some 2,500 young people are waiting for mental health services. Some 317 have been on waiting lists for more than a year. Can the Taoiseach imagine being on a waiting list for more than a year? There are no child and adolescent mental health services available in the north Louth area. People under pressure in the Ladywell facility are doing exceptional work but the facility is not fit for purpose. Will the Taoiseach commit to the provision of fully staffed and adequately funded mental health services? Will he provide 24-7 mental health services? Will he update the Dáil on the status of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill?

See this speech in context