Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his kind words. In February, he raised the important issue of the scope of the mental health project. Much of it was to be reviewed. The original development proposal comprised the provision of an eight-bed intensive care unit at the existing 30-bed Lakeview mental health unit on the grounds of Naas General Hospital. In 2019, a further revised proposal to deliver 50 bed spaces, a nine-bed intensive care area and significantly upgraded infrastructure was received. In 2021, the scope has again been refined by the service area following a detailed examination of the latest delivered mental health projects to include different room layouts, wider corridors, additional recreational space and the relocation of staff rooms. The Deputy will be supportive of these. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is working hard on the delivery of that mental health facility, the mental health facility in Portrane and mental health facilities across the country, which are desperately needed.

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