Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I endorse the words of our party leader, Senator Fitzgerald, regarding World Mental Health Day. I am pleased to say I have spent a number of years working voluntarily with the Mental Health Association of Ireland and for that reason I have a particular interest in this area. I was involved in setting up one of its branches. Senator Fitzgerald's overall contention was that we have a lack of investment in facilities and resources in this area. She is absolutely correct and all the evidence supports this view.

I draw attention to one facet of this inadequacy which is a serious matter, namely, that there are no facilities for young people who suffer from anorexia. I came across a tragic case recently in my work. Approximately three beds are available for young people with anorexia. Currently young people are put in wards with adult psychiatric patients who have very different types of illnesses. There are no specific facilities for the treatment of those who suffer from anorexia. This is a great indictment of the health service and of our country. I urge the deputy leader to raise with the Minister the serious matter of facilities for the treatment of young people up to the age of 18 or 19 years with anorexia.

To return to my own brief, I ask the deputy leader to allow for a debate on the current position regarding the roll out of broadband. I would welcome an audit or stock take of where we are in terms of the delivery of broadband and where we are going. This issue is of critical importance to many communities and, while progress has been made, the objective must be to provide broadband for every citizen in the State and every half parish. Broadband provision is critical not only for quality of life and social issues but also for the economic development of the country and to deal with issues such as traffic and so on. It is critical that broadband is made available to every home in the country.