Mary Moran (Labour)

I welcome the extension of the long-term illness scheme. Will the Minister consider including patients that suffer stress or mental issues in the scheme? As I have mentioned to him before, the cost of prescriptions to such people can be astronomical.

I also welcome the increase in funding of €35 million for mental health services for children, adolescents and adults. I ask the Minister to examine the services that are provided for young people again because some of the hospitals are totally unsuitable. The wards are unsuitable and can have a mix of elderly people with mental problems and younger people. I ask that he takes this into consideration when allocating the money and services. I refer to the closure of the laboratory in the Louth hospital and the fact that, as a result, all blood tests are being sent to Drogheda which is 24 miles away. I was recently contacted by constituents who have long-term conditions and need their blood test results on the same day, and this is not happening. The lab closed only yesterday but it is already posing a problem.