Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the HSE was fined after pleading guilty in Kilkenny District Court to two charges relating to conditions at the psychiatric unit in St. Luke's General Hospital and two charges relating to the non-signing of seclusions orders by a consultant psychiatrist. The chair of the Mental Health Commission, Mr. John Saunders, stated, "As a regulatory body, it is entirely unacceptable to find conditions that you would have expected to find in a Victorian workhouse in a mental health service in Ireland in 2019." I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that this is a damning verdict on the shocking conditions in the hospital in Kilkenny and highlights the necessity to ensure capital programmes are delivered in respect of mental health. In light of the overspend on the national children's hospital, what HSE capital projects will be delayed?

Could the Taoiseach tell us if that includes proposed upgrades to mental health facilities? Could he also tell us when the HSE's revised capital plan will now be published?

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