Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government side is clearly missing the point. There is a need to deliver on mental health services. There is a need to find the resources that were promised and committed to. The Government promised resources would be provided and ring-fenced and if they are not delivered, clearly there will be more stories like those from Ballinasloe, and there will be cutbacks and a lack of services where they are required. Savings can be made within the Department's budget. If the Minister of State wants to have a debate in the House on any day, we will clearly identify for her where some of the savings can be made. We need an approach that will reduce red tape and bureaucracy and deal with some of the issues that need to be addressed.

I am delighted that this Private Members' motion was tabled tonight. It seeks to address and raise issues of critical national importance for people who struggle with mental health difficulties. We fully support the Minister of State in her work but she needs to find the money that was promised. It was not promised by the previous Government; it was promised by the current Government which has a responsibility to the people to find the money that it promised in the programme for Government. The programme for Government was agreed between the Labour Party and Fine Gael. That promise will be broken if the Minister of State cannot give a commitment here tonight.