Bantry mental health staffing
Deputy Michael Collins said Bantry mental health and recovery centre faced a staffing crisis and declining standards, and asked about recruiting nurses for the service. The Taoiseach said the issue was important but not covered by promised legislation or a specific programme commitment, and suggested it be raised as a Topical Issue matter.
The Deputy is happy with that.
I call Deputy Michael Collins. I ask him to be very brief as I am about to cut off-----
Comment on this
Page 69 of the programme for Government states that the Government is committed to conducting an evidence-based review of the current status of implementation of international best practice in the area of mental health. This has not happened in the Bantry centre for mental health and recovery, which has a major staffing crisis. A recent report by the Mental Health Commission found that the standards at the Bantry mental health centre have significantly dropped by 10% from 2017 to 2018.
Comment on this
The Deputy should ask a parliamentary question or submit it for the Topical Issue debate.
Comment on this
Is the HSE offering positions to nurses who are about to qualify this year, as the HSE needs to recruit nursing staff immediately for a very seriously overstretched Bantry centre for mental health?
Comment on this
We will have to have a serious look at questions raised on Questions on Promised Legislation. The matters would be more suitably raised as Topical Issue matters or in parliamentary questions.
Comment on this
I appreciate this is a very important local issue but there is no legislation promised on it, nor any specific programme for Government commitment.
Comment on this
The programme for Government-----