Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It does mean something to the people who work in a hospital and so on that Government Members visit and listen.

Deputy Collins knows the endoscopy and stroke units are happening. Much design work has to go into all these projects. They will happen, just as other investments happened in Bantry General Hospital. The stroke units have been very effective across the country and they will make a big difference. The endoscopy suite will also make a big difference. They are welcome developments in themselves.

As regards mental health, it is very important that investment would go into the acute facility. Equally, however, investment must go into community mental health. A strong primary mental health capacity and community mental health capacity is very often far more effective because it prevents the need for people to be taken into acute units. I met many mental health experts who argued that if we rely more on acute services it reflects a failure prior to that at primary and community level. Therefore, as we build up and modernise the acute service-----

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