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21 Oct 2025
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21 Oct 2025
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TD Sorca Clarke has said that Budget 2026 was a critical opportunity to deliver genuine reform in mental health services
Sinn Féin Longford-Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke has said that Budget 2026 was a critical opportunity to deliver genuine reform in mental health services, yet it offers nothing more than recycled commitments and missed opportunities.
The Sinn Féin spokesperson on mental health has criticised the Government and described it as a 'box-ticking exercise'.
Read more: Beaming with Pride: Longford's Gemma 'very lucky to meet people who make things happen'
“If you want to know how much the Government cares about mental health you only need to look at this year’s budget.
"It reads as a copy and paste of last year’s budget.
"There are no details about any new measures for mental health.
"No ambition, no urgency.
"They couldn’t have put less effort into it if they tried.
Deputy Clarke stressed our mental health services are 'in crisis'.
"Waiting lists are at record highs, community mental health teams overstretched, youth services under strain, services severely understaffed and under resourced.
"Government’s lack of clear new measures is indefensible.
“There are people who are in crisis, waiting months – sometimes years – for help, and this budget offers them nothing but recycled words.
Read more: Anger as people from another county told to go to 'soft touch' Longford for social housing
“Mental health has been treated as another tick the box exercise in the Budget - a paragraph to be included, not a crisis to be solved.
"[It's] an afterthought."
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