Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the detailed reply.

I do not disagree with the Minister of State's comments and I would not even suggest for a second it is down to a lack of funding. It is a lack of accountability, people taking responsibility and delivery on the ground. I accept everything the Minister of State spoke about in his statement but if it is the case, who is responsible for not delivering the service in just the three cases I have outlined to the Minister of State today because I was short of time? With the last case I mentioned, the individual was turned away from the Celbridge primary care centre between Christmas and the new year, when he showed up with mental health issues. He was told they could not help him as they had no services or resources. He made contact with me and we got him into Pieta House.

I am not coming after the Minister of State, the Government or the Minister because of a lack of funding. I do not doubt them for a minute. I have spoken with the Minister of State about other matters in his Department and despite the funding, we can clearly see cases that are not isolated. When I raised this with the Taoiseach, he said they were isolated cases but they are not. There is a trend here and the reality is services are not being delivered on the ground. Can we get to the people who are responsible and accountable in the Health Service Executive, HSE, for not delivering these services? Will there be consequences for not delivering them? Why was a minor allowed to roam on his own last year? He went missing twice on suicide watch. This is happening and it is a reality. We must find out why if there is no issue with funding. The Minister of State has indicated the resources are there and more are coming, which is great news, but why are services not being delivered on the ground? Why are there gaps in the service and why are we seeing such massive problems?

Will the Minister of State extend an invitation to the other Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to come to Celbridge to visit the Abbey Community Project, which has done wonderful work for the past ten years? Will he pursue the HSE on the commitment to funding for it that was promised? Does the Minister of State know how much money was given last year for its two professionals providing dual diagnosis for 45 cases? It was €3,000 and they were told it was only to be used for stationery and renting office space. That is how bad it is.

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