Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is not an issue that is confined to one part of the country nor is it confined to a conversation between one Deputy and another. This is an issue that we all, unfortunately, come into contact with. It is important to point out this was starting from a zero base. The former Minister, who is now Taoiseach, allocated approximately €5 million per year since 2020. That was to recognise the pressures that were there from Covid, which everybody experienced and which was an absolutely horrific period of time. That has been maintained. Is there scope for it to be grown? Obviously, every health service, mental and otherwise, has scope to grow. I have competing demands, but it is something I feel is very important. We can now, thankfully, discuss it in a forum whereas maybe 30 years ago this would have been unheard of. It is refreshing that this is the case, and more definitely needs to be done with it.

The HEIs have their own resources as well, in particular, the older universities - I hate calling them that. I would like to see them doing more in this space as well. Obviously, for those that are financially challenged, we will be prepared to look at that going forward. However, this will be in the context of the round of the budget, and we have had a lot of competing demands in this Chamber already tonight.

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