No More Cuts In Health Budget Will Be Tolerated

I note with interest on today’s national media a warning by Minister Leo Varadkar that cuts that the Government are seeking in the forthcoming budget particularly in the areas of mental health and disability would lead to, and I quote, “a serious downgrading in the quality of services”. These are the Minister’s own words not mine. In view of the fact that it is generally accepted that county Roscommon has the worst level of mental health services in the country, any further cutbacks would be a total disaster. The situation is very serious as it is without further cutbacks. I am calling on Minister Howlin and the Government to abandon any attempt to make further cutbacks to these services in the Budget. I have learned that Minister Howlin is seeking a 5% reduction in spending in certain areas. I will be strongly opposing any such reduction especially in terms of services in the mental health area and in the disability area as well. In these areas it is spending increases that are required, not reductions