Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I join Senator Fitzgerald in asking the Leader for an urgent debate on the mental health sector. The strategy document, A Vision for Change, was launched amid much fanfare but we have seen no matching commitment by the Government to implement change.

We have had debates in this House on health and education. On both occasions, the relevant Ministers were, to say the least, making it up as they went along. I bring Members' attention to the situation in Cork where the chest pain clinic has been closed. The Minister informed the House there would be no cutbacks in health service but they are there to be seen. The Minister informed Senators there is plenty of money for the health service. We are told on the one hand of a €9 million underspend while, on the other, this is contradicted by a Health Service Executive official. We must have a debate on budgeting in the health service.

I understand the Joint Committee on House Services is meeting this afternoon to discuss matters relating to the water framework directive. There must be an urgent debate on the provision of capitation grants to schools and on the issue of whether schools should have to pay for their water supply. The current situation is incredible. I received an e-mail recently from a school principal which stated:

Capitation does not cover heating, lighting, insurance, cleaning and maintenance. The capitation grant does not arrive in schools until January and most principals are seriously embarrassed by the level of debt and are continuously dealing with calls from creditors.

The Government, as led by the Leader's party, is putting school principals to the pin of their collar. The last debate we had on education took place before the budget. Another debate must take place given that the picture has changed entirely since then.