Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This motion put forward by Sinn Féin is an opportunity to say "Stop" and to stop the waste. It a chance to inject a bit of common sense into the Ministers of State opposite me and a bit of humility into them, maybe. Unlike the bike shed, where the Government wasted €336,000; unlike the security hut, where it spent €1.4 million; and unlike the runaway train that is the national children's hospital, which is now the most expensive hospital in the world as it is running at €2.2 billion and counting, and is €1.5 billion over budget, this money has not yet been wasted.

The sum of €9 million for mobile phone pouches, dressed up as a mental health initiative, is not only a waste of money - it is insulting to the many parents and children out there who have mental health issues. Since I raised this issue on Thursday I have been inundated with young people, and those who are not too young, telling me their stories of being on that list, perhaps as one of the 4,000 children who are waiting for an appointment with CAMHS or one of the 500 children who have been waiting for more than a year for such an appointment. People have spoken to me about how they attempted to take their own lives because they did not have the services or supports when they were reaching out. They find it insulting that the Minister is announcing €9 million for mobile phone pouches as a mental health initiative while at the same time injecting less than €3 million in additional support for CAMHS. It is insulting, given that we have 4,000 people waiting on those lists.

Teachers have also been reaching out to us to tell us they have trouble keeping the lights on, paying the bills and being able to make sure schools are heated. It is not only Sinn Féin calling out the Government for the lack of investment in education. We know that the OECD has also called out our level of investment. Ireland has one of the lowest levels of investment in education in Europe. At secondary level, in particular, the Teachers Union of Ireland has said that the funding situation is dire.

This is an opportunity because every single TD will have a chance to vote here. The simple proposition that is being put forward is to stop wasting public money like the Government did with the bike shed, the security hut and the rapid-build modular houses that were supposed to be built for €200,000 but ended up costing €420,000. Let us see a bit of common sense and humility from the Government. Let us stop this waste. Let us invest in proper mental health services that can support the children who need it.

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