Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. Has he the will to find a way? A Vision for Change has been a failure. A mental health crisis nurse was appointed on a 24-7 basis but did not get the go-ahead because of the embargo on mental health places. This embargo is not fair when people are losing their lives. It is just shocking. St. Michael's hospital has been transformed to deal with Covid. What is happening with mental health services cannot be allowed. The people of the county will not allow the hospital to be closed when Covid passes. We must have the beds used and we must have the qualified staff. The Rolls-Royce community service we were promised when St. Michael's was closed as part of A Vision for Change has not got into gear and we have lost too many lives. Too many families have been left distraught and devastated. There are now many more pressures on people, including businesspeople, owing to Covid so we need the beds. We need the Taoiseach and his Ministers to find a way and to have the will to find it.

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