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

Despite costly inspectorial reports and recommendations, this centre has had no financial input over the years. The service is vital in catering for mental health care and recovery for a huge population, comprising over 180,000 people. I commend the staff in the unit, who must be working under pressure because there has been no investment in the centre. Now they are worried about their jobs and rightly so. I urgently request that the HSE appeals this proposal. The answer the Minister of State gave does not cut it with the people of west Cork. We are within hours of these beds being closed. We need urgent action. I will be coming back into the Dáil tomorrow and I will ask the same question. I plead with the Minister of State to speak with Deputy Butler so she can work with the HSE and at least take the first steps to set in motion the appeal for the people of Cork South-West. We need that mental health service. I will ask that question here again tomorrow and I plead for the Minister of State to have an answer stating that appeal is at least in motion. Then we will have to look at the funding. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have let down the people in Cork South-West before with the maternity unit in that hospital. Now they are going to do it with the mental health service in that hospital.

See this speech in context