Railways and mental health
Senator Wilson backed retaining rail services and agreed with criticism of rural neglect, then turned briefly to Youthreach. Senator McFadden shifted to Athlone’s stadium and mental health funding commitments.
Such commitment to the local area.
Comment on this
Perhaps they might consider it down the road.
Comment on this
I agree wholeheartedly with what Senator Rose Conway-Walsh said about the railways. The advice I give to any area with a rail service is to hold on to it, irrespective of how much it would cost to do so, as it is a very important asset. In the part of the country from which I come and the part of the Six Counties governed by Sinn Féin and the DUP where there is the lack of railway infrastructure, we know of the disadvantage caused. I, therefore, encourage those served by a rail network to hold on to it.
Senator Rose Conway-Walsh also mentioned Belmullet Youthreach. Youthreach has been one of the most important educational programmes in the history of the State and provided much-needed education and training for over 10,000 early school leavers since its inception 30 years ago. Belmullet is lucky to have one of the finest Youthreach centres in the country.
Comment on this
It would be remiss of me not mention Athlone in the context of the Rugby World Cup. We have the great Buccaneers stadium in Athlone which is very central and could accommodate matches, too.
I wish to speak about mental health. Over six months ago Fine Gael made an election commitment to increase mental health funding to €175 million, to build on A Vision for Change by resourcing adult and child mental health services in the community and to ensure greater access to counselling and psychological services, thereby reducing waiting lists for child and adult mental health services. I am somewhat disappointed that in County Westmeath only two of five posts of clinical psychologist in child and adult mental health services have been filled. While I do not know if it is true, I believe the funding to fill the remaining three posts has been withdrawn. Waiting times for children with serious conditions such as eating disorders and depression in some cases are over 12 months. As a parent and mindful of the ever-present worry of teenage suicide and the bullying that takes place on Facebook etc., a waiting time of more than four weeks, let alone 12 months, is not acceptable for someone with a serious and escalating condition. The young adult mental health services in County Westmeath which cater for young people in the critical 16 to 18 years age range have no clinical psychologist. I appreciate that we have a Minister of State with responsibility for mental health services who does a very good job and ask the Leader to invite her to come to the House to outline her plans for child and adult mental health services, with a particular emphasis, obviously, on County Westmeath.