Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the VAT rate within the hospitality sector and it is particularly relevant to so do before the budget. Figures that are being quoted suggest that an additional 9,000 jobs have been created in the hospitality sector. While they cannot all be due to the benefits the sector has experienced following the reduction of its VAT rate, some of them certainly are. There is a concern that jobs would be lost in that sector were the rate to revert to 13.5% in this budget and Members should take the opportunity next week to have that conversation with the Minister for Finance.

In a brief point on mental health services being reconfigured in other areas, I can only give Members the experience of County Wexford on foot of the reconfiguration of its mental health services and the closure of St. Senan's hospital, which was the mental health acute admissions unit which, with the A Vision for Change strategy, has been excellent. Moreover, I advise Deputies, Senators and councillors to take on board the A Vision for Change viewpoint regarding the new areas that can be introduced and the reconfiguring of the services into the community. In this context, the services now being provided in Wexford are superior to what had been in place prior to the changes. There always will be concerns and if issues are being communicated poorly by the Health Service Executive, it should deal with that. However, I can only give an honest appraisal of what I have seen in the constituency in which I live.