55 full time vacant posts across Louth and Meath mental health services
Ó Murchú seeks timeline for the construction of ten bed extension at Drogheda Department of Psychiatry at Crosslanes
There are 55 full time vacant posts across Louth and Meath mental health services, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú has been told by the HSE.
The number was revealed in response to a parliamentary question that also asked about the timeline for the construction of the ten bed extension at the Drogheda Department of Psychiatry (DDOP) at Crosslanes.
The issue was raised in Leinster House again by the Dundalk Sinn Féin TD who said it was ‘some sort of answer’ that he received about the plan for the ten bed extension, but it did not outline the timeline as he had requested.
Deputy Ó Murchú told Minister of State Mary Butler: “I have spoken previously about mental health services and bed provision. There are 55 whole-time equivalent vacant posts across all disciplines. We need some element of a plan for how those posts can be delivered.”
He also raised the granting of planning permission recently for the construction of a primary care centre at the former Carroll Village Shopping Centre site.
He said: “Planning permission for that is through but we are talking about a need for recruitment in a huge number of disciplines, from mental health right through to disability and community care.
"We need a timeline for delivery of the centre and making sure all those posts are in place. A building and a plan in regard to that building are what we need.”