Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about Government and State neglect of the health needs of people with eating disorders. This issue was highlighted on Saturday, with protests taking place in Cork, Limerick and Dublin. Despite the fact that the HSE identifies eating disorders as resulting in the highest morbidity and mortality within the mental health sector, there are only three beds for adults with eating disorders provided within the State's public health system. I asked the young people in Cork who organised the protest last Saturday what their demands were. They explained that they have four demands, namely: counselling to be available in every region; more inpatient beds; more education for carers; and more accurate statistics. It is not known how many people in the State suffer from eating disorders. I would like the Taoiseach to comment on those four demands.

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