Mental health funding and staffing
Mattie McGrath raised the shortage of mental health beds in Tipperary and concerns voiced by psychiatrist Dr. John Hillery about HSE staffing and ethics. After a heated exchange over Hillery’s political candidacy, the Taoiseach said there was no promised legislation, but funding had increased by €200 million a year since 2012.
The programme for Government contains a commitment to improving the provision of mental health services. Tipperary, the county I represent, does not have one mental health bed. When will the Taoiseach cry "halt"? What does it mean when Dr. John Hillery, a consultant psychiatrist and president of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, says that he has been forced to resign his role within the Health Service Executive and he and his colleagues are being ethically compromised? This is not the first time Dr. Hillery has raised these matters. Last year, he pointed out that the recruitment issue facing the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and general psychiatry services was crippling the service and that the terms and conditions of those working for the HSE were a major issue. When will the Taoiseach do something about the HSE? Mental health is a serious issue. Dr. Hillery visited the Houses twice at the invitation of the Ceann Comhairle. His prowess and stature on this issue are well recognised. He has now resigned because of the chaos in the HSE and its inability to recruit people. How could he remain in such a dysfunctional organisation?
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I am sure the person concerned is a fine psychiatrist. I think he is also an election candidate so we should bear that in mind as well. When it comes to-----
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That is a nakedly political comment.
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Everything about the Taoiseach is spin.
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Will the Taoiseach answer the question?
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He is only talking balderdash. All he sees in front of him are votes.
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Dr. Hillery is a reputable and esteemed voice on mental health.
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Will Members please respect the Chamber? The Taoiseach is in possession. Please let him speak.
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No legislation is promised on the matter but the programme for Government commits to continuing to increase resources for the mental health sector and we have done so. Funding for mental health has increased by €200 million per annum since 2012, which has led to the recruitment of additional staff.