If I were to sum up Government responses to the multitude of questions it receives from Sinn Féin and other Deputies in the House in respect of mental health, the response could be summarised as "Wait until next year". That seems to be the answer I get to any question I put. It is shameful that we have to bring forward a motion in respect of people presenting at emergency rooms in a mental health crisis. This indicates that there is a crisis across the mental health spectrum, despite absolutely brilliant work being done by people in CAMHS and the mental health services. The truth of the matter is there are not enough of staff and they are not provided with the services they need. That says to me, very clearly, that mental health services are simply not being prioritised by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in Government. To give one example, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and I had an interaction in respect of the acute mental health unit in Cavan hospital. The long-promised psychiatric unit at the hospital is needed for the entire region. I have a multitude of responses on this from both the Minister of State and her predecessors and what do they amount to is "Wait until next year". This year, in January 2026, the Minister of State tells me again to wait. This is not about me or the Minister of State; it is about the people who depend on that service. Mental Health Commission reports have pointed out the unit requires an entirely new build above ground level. I ask the Minister of State to stop forcing people to wait and deliver the mental health services they actually need right now.

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