Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also want to pass on my sympathies to the people of Manchester in the wake of this devastating event. Our thoughts are with them.

HSE figures for 2017 show that 2,520 children and young people are waiting for an initial assessment by our mental health services.There has been an increase of 44 on last year. That is unacceptable. Children are waiting more than a year or two years for these services. I see it in my own area, where the after-hours services have been cut. I have brought this up in the Seanad and with the Minister. It is a disgrace to see that nearly 2,520 children are waiting on these services. It is unacceptable.

The other issue I want to address today is the community-based CCTV system which the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality announced a few months back. I welcome that. It is a three-year programme. It will cost €1 million. I have great concerns about the scheme because in my own home town we applied, with the local authority, through the Garda Síochána programme for CCTV in our town park three years ago. We have been waiting for three years. Last week we were told again that we will not be receiving funding through this programme. This is a programme which An Garda Síochána has implemented. It is unacceptable. While I welcome this programme, why is the Minister introducing new programmes when for years we have not been getting the money we have been waiting for? I will be asking the Minister to come in to the House. It is unacceptable.