Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The people of Tipperary, including myself and my colleagues, are dismayed at the news we heard this week from the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, that not one additional mental health bed will become available in Tipperary for at least six or seven years. We are in an absolute crisis situation. We had A Vision for Change and all of its promises and platitudes. We have an epidemic throughout the country with mental health issues. To think there is not one single additional long-stay bed in our county. Kilkenny is overflowing and, no disrespect to Deputy Aylward, but they do not want us there because they cannot cope. This situation that we must wait six to seven years before we get an extra bed in Tipperary cannot be allowed to prevail. It is totally unacceptable. Where is the Government's moral compass? Is it in its feet? We cannot allow this situation to continue.

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