Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá muintir na Gaillimhe arís i mbun tóraíochta ar dhuine a chuaigh amach ón droichead ansin i nGaillimh. Unfortunately, another search and rescue operation is under way in Galway for a person who has been lost in the river. It has become a regular occurrence in the city in recent years. We hope that the operation is successful and commend all those involved in search and rescue for the incredible work they do under difficult circumstances. It highlights some of the issues that we see in Galway in the area of mental health and particularly among young people. Recently, a suicidal teenager was rescued from the Corrib and was subsequently turned away from University Hospital Galway. It was reported that she was dripping wet from a drowning attempt at the Wolfe Tone Bridge. She was assessed by a triage nurse in the back of an ambulance and deemed unfit to be admitted to the hospital. She kept insisting that she would take her life and was brought to a cell in Mill Street Garda station for her own safety. When her father collected her from the Garda station she was insisting that she would repeat the suicide attempt. They drove to the emergency department where she pleaded with medical staff to be admitted. She was once again refused and she remained in a distressed and unco-operative state. On the night in question, she had taken a cocktail of alcohol and drugs prior to jumping in the water at the Wolfe Tone Bridge. Her life was saved when she was rescued by a garda and a member of the public. There are reports of similar cases, such as the man with self-inflicted open knife wounds, and another man enduring a paranoid psychotic episode who were left waiting in the emergency department until he left and jumped into the Corrib, taking his own life.

There is a very serious issue with mental health services in the west. It is something I have highlighted on many occasions, particularly regarding drug and alcohol services in the Galway-Roscommon area which seem to be significantly understaffed in comparison with other regions. This crisis arises from chaotic mental health services across the country. The Psychiatric Nurses Association has informed me that a high dependency unit will be closed by the end of the month, and the Minister has confirmed this. Members of the association have quite rightly balloted 80% in favour of industrial action for the safety of patients and staff. They have not done so for personal gain but from a duty of care. Where is the Government's duty of care to the people of Galway and the staff who have been pushed to the end of their tether? I would like a debate on mental health services, particularly in the west, because the Galway-Roscommon mental health area is completely understaffed compared with other areas, where I know there are problems, but the situation in Galway-Roscommon is particularly acute.