The programme for Government specifically mentions mental health provisions. We do not have one mental health bed in the whole county of Tipperary. I know a mother, Louise Kennedy, whose 14 year old daughter, Aoife, is entering her tenth week in a paediatric ward in St. Joseph's hospital in Clonmel, County Tipperary, while awaiting a bed in a mental health facility. I also know another mother, Lorraine O'Brien from Carrickbeg, whose daughter is Layla Keyes, a 13 year old. These people are languishing in hospital wards that are not fit for them because they get no treatment there. This has been dragging on and on. What is the Taoiseach going to do about it?

This is on promised legislation.

It is promised legislation on mental health. The Taoiseach mentioned painting over a mural. He cannot paint over these cracks. These are vital years - vital days - in the lives of these young children. They need to be looked after. Glib answers are no good if the Taoiseach cannot speak on personal situations. There are no beds available in Tipperary.

I thank the Deputy. Is there promised mental health legislation?

We cannot access beds in Cork or anywhere else. It is unfair. The parents are bewildered, the families are demented and the children are suffering enormous stress. In another country, this would be regarded as a war crime. It is disgraceful.

I spoke with the Deputy in respect of one of those cases last week. As he is aware, I also spoke with one of the parents involved. The HSE and I are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it.

Ten weeks.

That said, there is also the bigger issue of bed capacity. The latter is, I accept, a particular issue in the Deputy's area, which I have visited with the Deputy to view, at first hand, the challenges there-----

I appreciate that.

-----particularly when it comes to acute beds for teenagers, not to mention the access issues at Éist Linn in my county, Cork. We have plans to develop more acute beds for child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, patients with the opening of the new hospital in Portrane, Dublin, which will provide an additional ten beds. There are a number of other projects we are trying to advance as quickly as possible in order to provide increased capacity for teenagers who need acute care.

I am talking about what is needed now.