Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for the way he has addressed this issue. I am conscious that the centre is home for many of the residents in Bantry. As I have said, in CHO 4 the chief officer and the area lead for mental health have put in place a comprehensive plan, which I have seen, in relation to capital projects across counties Cork and Kerry. That is the first point. The plan is being given consideration by the health business services estates.

The second point is that this relates to the national implementation and monitoring committee, which I put in place after Sharing the Vision was launched two years ago by my predecessor, the former Minister of State and Deputy, Jim Daly. One of the conditions of Sharing the Vision was that there would be a national implementation and monitoring committee to ensure that we are all doing our jobs. One of the first things I asked the committee to do was conduct a bed capacity review of mental health beds across the country, because it is really important to know what challenges we are facing in specific areas. That work is under way. I look forward to having that report.

I guarantee that this issue is very high on my agenda. It is extremely important that there is communication between the HSE and the Mental Health Commission. That communication will continue. The last thing I want so see is a court case, but at the same time I have to be very conscious that to lose seven beds in that particular hospital would have a detrimental impact on residents in the area, and also could have a knock-on effect elsewhere. I, as Minister of State, must ensure that we have capacity for these people who have mental illnesses and enduring mental health difficulties. They need the support of the State.