Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this Topical Issues debate, which is a huge issue for the people of Cork South-West. The Minister of State will be well aware of the recent recommendation from the Mental Health Commission to reduce the number of beds in the Bantry Centre for Mental Health Care and Recovery from 18 to 11. This is a huge retrograde step for mental health services in the west Cork area and one to which I am vehemently opposed. I am disappointed that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is not here as she is responsible for mental health, or the Minister for Health. It is a huge issue for us in west Cork.

In 2019, an inspection report from the Mental Health Commission found that the Bantry Centre for Mental Health Care and Recovery scored 88% on compliance. This was an indication that huge investment was urgently needed there. In 2021, the Mental Health Commission again found the compliance rate was 88%. There was no deterioration in the score but, more significantly, none of the recommendations made by the commission had been implemented since the previous findings. Perhaps the Minister of State could tell us why that happened. In response to a parliamentary question, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, said the Mental Health Commission has made a decision to put a restriction on the registration of the centre, reducing the total number of registered beds from 18 to 11 due to its concern about the size of residents' bedrooms in the centre. She says she has requested a detailed report from the HSE on the matter, which is awaited.

The reply also states the HSE has informed the Minister of State that it is currently examining all options available to it. What are the options here? There is only one option for the people of Cork South-West. The HSE has to appeal this decision immediately. Somebody has made a major cock-up here. Somebody has to put their hand up in the air and say who it is and heads have to roll. We cannot go from 18 beds to 11. The Government cannot walk away from this. The Taoiseach was in Bantry hospital two weeks ago promising the earth, the moon and the stars, while opening an injury unit that was opened nine years previously. I would welcome the Taoiseach coming to west Cork any time. I would never refuse him coming to Bantry hospital but for God's sake, he should come down and give us some good news. He promised there would be no loss of services and here we are two weeks later with the massive loss of a mental health service being proposed.

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