The new CNU will be handed over to the HSE in the next three to six months. It is a 50-bed, en suite, state-of-the-art unit which cost €25 million.

In case anybody might think we forgot about south Tipperary, my good friend Councillor Imelda Goldsboro is at the doors and she has not forgotten one thing about what is happening in Clonmel. With regard to the CNU the Deputy spoke about, Councillor Roger Kennedy was in touch with me during the week and I engaged again on the matter. I found out from the HSE that it will have a plan in place in the next three months. That is in relation to the site but to reassure the Deputy, this is one of seven CNUs that will be …

There are no half promises in relation to CNUs. The Government in 2016 announced a massive project to rebuild 90 CNUs across the length and breadth of the country. Some 48 of them are concluded. We lost two years during Covid as I think everybody would understand. There are seven currently under way, one in Clonmel in south Tipperary which will be handed over to the HSE in quarter 1 of next year. In respect of the one in Nenagh, there are no half promises. It is on the capital plan. The HSE has stated that it is cu…

I thank the Deputy very much for her question. Some €110 million of funding in this year's mental health budget, which will increase significantly next year, is paid out to various organisations and NGOs and different groups on the ground that deliver services. The onus is on each group to reach compliance with the regulations and the governance has to be in order. They can engage with the local HSE to try to secure a service level agreement to deliver supports. It is not true to say that there are no 24-7 supports…

It is absolutely untrue to say there are not 24-7 supports for people with mental health issues in Wexford. They can attend the emergency department in Wexford General Hospital, which will always be the first port of call, that is, an out-of-hours emergency department.

That is appalling behaviour. The Deputy has got her moment again for South East Radio.

That is scandalous and appalling.

Me as well.

I thank the Deputy for his question. Improving access to home support is a priority for me and the Government. The overall budget for home support in 2025 will be approximately €838 million, €122 million more than was secured in budget 2024. I thank the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, for his support in that regard. I am disappointed to hear that the waiting list in the CHO 4 area, which has always been longer than anywhere else, is in or around 1,300, accounting for approximately one fifth of the country’s entire waitin…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to mark World Mental Health Day 2024. It is a day that allows us to reflect on the importance of mental health as a vital element in the overall good health of every individual – there is no health without mental health. It is also an appropriate day to reflect on the huge progress that has been made in mental health policy and service delivery in Ireland since World Mental Health Day was launched on 10 October 1992. Ireland has made significant advancements in …

I will meet them.

That is No. 14 of 16. I am getting there.

I understand.

I thank Members of the House for their contributions. I thank all of those who work across mental health services in public, private and voluntary community services. They do a phenomenal amount of work. I want to refer to a couple of issues that were raised. I was asked whether the Mental Health Bill would fall if the Government was dissolved. Technically, it will fall. However, on the two days of debate on Second Stage on the Bill, we got the full co-operation of the House. From having spoken to Members of the Ho…

You have had your time.

As the Deputy will know, the model of care for the national clinical programme for eating disorders was launched in 2018 and since I took office in July 2020, I have prioritised its roll-out. Multidisciplinary eating disorder teams for adults and CAMHS are being rolled out throughout the country. There are now 11 teams in place, comprising six adult teams and five for child and adolescent mental health services. Earlier this year, I announced the establishment of a new adult team for CHO 7, which will cover the are…

Since the model of care was launched in 2018, we have learned that 90% of those with an eating disorder can be treated very well in the community. We saw a huge spike in the number of referrals for eating disorders during Covid, especially in girls aged 15 or 16 with anorexia. As I said, year on year I have continued to prioritise the roll-out of these teams, which are specialist teams. People who work with eating disorders have specialist qualifications, and the fact 100 people are working on a specific clinical p…

Approximately 90% of people with eating disorders are treated in the community. The best clinical advice that was available to me when I took up this role suggested that we should enhance the clinical supports in the communities because that would meet the needs of that 90%. We are undertaking a review of the model of care because when it was devised in 2018 with data from 2016 and 2017, it was estimated that there might be 60 people a year, whereas we are now reaching more than 500 people a year who have an eating…

I acknowledge the Deputy's continued interest in this matter. The model of care in regard to dual diagnosis was launched only last year. In 2021, I launched the model of care for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, for adults, with four new teams in place this year. We will continue to complete that roll-out. Given the model of care for dual diagnosis was launched only last year, we have a way to go. The model of care describes a clinical pathway based on integrated service delivery across primary care,…

I do not disagree with the Deputy. The Keltoi rehabilitation centre is hugely important. It is recommended in the model of care that the centre provide a dual diagnosis service. It is intended to be used for rehabilitation of those with serious and significant mental health difficulties and substance use disorders. It will accept referrals from across Ireland, which is really important. Access will not be limited by a postcode lottery. The service is planned as a partnership between the HSE and social inclusion in …