The question is in the context of significant additional funding for mental health services over the past five years, resulting in a €1.6 billion investment in mental health services for 2026. For the sixth year in a row, there has been an increase in staffing. I would like the Minister to make a statement on the funding provided for mental health crisis supports and suicide prevention in 2026.

Sentiment score: -0.05

I thank the Minister of State. It is extremely important that we continue to progress investment in our mental health services. We still lag behind the internationally accepted norms for spending on mental health as a proportion of our budget. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has done some tremendous work in this regard. We have identified the tsunami of mental health issues that have arisen since Covid. As a practising GP, it is important to me that when we refer people who are in crisis that there are adequate pathways for them to achieve treatment. I have dealt with situations where young people in crisis, who are actively suicidal, have sat in emergency rooms for eight or nine hours waiting for an assessment. Putting specialist nursing teams into all model 4 emergency departments is a good initiative because it will provide an immediate assessment by a specialist nurse.

Sentiment score: -0.03

I welcome all those initiatives. It is really important that they are integrated with existing mental health services. Initiatives must be even and consistent throughout the country, with adequate access. In addition, we need to look at acute mental health capacity in its totality in terms of beds. In the acute psychiatric unit in Roscommon University Hospital, up to a third of beds are taken by people who would be better served in supported situations in the community. In County Roscommon, there were many community hospitals and problems were identified with them. However, after the closure of the psychiatric hospital in Castlerea, there has been no replacement capacity in the community to step people down into those beds and create space for acute presentations to the psychiatric unit in Roscommon University Hospital.

Sentiment score: 0.17

85. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the osteoporosis drug Prolia, denosumab, is not routinely available free of charge to men with confirmed debilitating osteoporosis in Ireland in the same manner as it is available to women in equivalent clinical circumstances; and the steps her Department is taking to ensure equitable access for male patients in the Roscommon–Galway constituency who could benefit from this treatment but currently face significant financial or access barriers. [64522/25]

Sentiment score: 0.16

I apologise to the Minister as this question contains incorrect information. I contacted her team to convey that message. I will ask the question and she might get back to me on it. I gave her short notice in respect of it. Romosozumab is a licensed treatment for post-menopausal women with advanced osteoporosis that does not respond to all other therapies. I have had a representation from a young middle-aged man who has a rare form of osteoporosis that has rendered him disabled. He does not have access to this drug by virtue of being a male.

Sentiment score: 0.22

I appreciate the Minister's answer, which is given at short notice. I am glad I raised the question on the floor of the House. The young man I mentioned is in difficulty. He is a self-employed businessman and is now disabled with multiple non-traumatic fractures. He asked whether there was a possibility he might be reimbursed for this medicine. However, it is down to the company to apply for a licence, as the Minister said. I accept that completely. We will have to revert to the company. I appreciate her reply.

Sentiment score: 0.14