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

I thank the Minister, who is a neighbour of mine. I am incredibly concerned about where money is being spent in the HSE. We pay for a health service through our taxes, but it seems more and more money is being spent on the national children's hospital without fixing the problem, which is a worry. I read yesterday that there is a €455 million overspend, which the Taoiseach expects will increase. That is huge.

Hundreds of people are on trolleys, and even more are waiting to be discharged without adequate step-down supports. I have previously raised concerns about people with mental health issues being treated in accident and emergency departments, as they have nowhere else to go. Entire regions have zero access to life-saving medical help on evenings or weekends, which is probably the biggest issue I face. Despite having one of the youngest populations and being one of the highest income countries in the OECD, we spend much more per person on health than the average. We should be getting more for our money and value for money. There is a massive recruitment crisis in the health service. More than 2,500 additional staff are needed for the full provision of mental health services across the country. I join with Senator Freeman and other colleagues in asking the Minister to reconvene the mental health committee. I beg that of him.

We are all alarmed by the recent damning report from the Mental Health Commission, which makes it clear that the State is guilty of long-term neglect of people in need of services. The department of psychiatry at University Hospital Waterford had a mere 57% compliance rate this year. There are few or no CAMHS services available in counties Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford, or Kilkenny. The nearest place our young people can be seen is Galway. Our young people are repeatedly being admitted to adult units in St. Luke's hospital, which is not acceptable. A helpline number was released last week, which is welcome. It is only a start, but I welcome it.

Everywhere we turn there are massive problems in capital funding in health. I have repeatedly submitted a Commencement Matter, which has never been selected, seeking a status report on the building for the Holy Angels Day Care Centre for children with special needs in Carlow. I raise this again in light of the recent Tusla report highlighting the corrective measures required for the physical and material environment of the current building. I have brought this up repeatedly in this House because we have been waiting over four decades for a building which is fit for purpose. I was never in government and so never had a say in this, but I am raising this issue with the Minister today because things are getting more difficult. I asked the Minister about this in person and he was gracious enough to grant funding for emergency purposes. Only two years ago he gave €150,000 for the roof of the school. I met him during the summer and he committed to a further €25,000. The HSE is waiting on that money, so I know he will give it to the staff of the Holy Angels school. I have to give credit where credit is due. Holy Angels has been on the priority list-----