Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Acting Leader to arrange a debate on mental health services, although I know time is short. I am concerned at utterances made by Dr. Finnerty, the Inspector of Mental Health Services. I have been involved in this issue for many years and have always advocated the devolution of the service from the hospital to the community. The community can provide a better service for staff and patients, but it is more expensive.

I read an article on this subject in one of the national newspapers this morning and one thing that came to mind was that we recognise that additional resource have been devolved, rightly, to this area. I cannot help noticing, however, that many of the issues reported by the inspector are operational matters. The painting of a building is not a matter to concern the Minister or any Member of either House. It is a matter for the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the people it employs. I do not propose to have this debate now but I ask the Acting Leader to organise a debate on this matter, if possible, in the short time we have left as I have many points to make.