Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I spent the recess meeting organisations, staff and mental health services right across the State, including in Deputies Griffin and Healy-Rae's area in Kerry, meeting families affected by child and adolescent mental health services. One of the biggest things that came up was about retention of staff working in the mental health service. Social and economic conditions are getting worse and staff retention is a real problem. The Minister mentioned a target of 460 new places in the coming year. If Sinn Féin was in government, we would target an increase of 1,300 healthcare work-related undergraduate places in the next year and there would need to be an increase of at least 50% in this over the coming five years.

The Minister mentioned cross-departmental engagement with the Minister for Health. What conversations were had with the Minister for Health? What is needed to meet the needs of the healthcare services at the moment? As I said, I do not think 460 places will cut it. The 460 additional places are welcome but we need many more.

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