Independent Galway West candidate and Mayor Mike Cubbard says a wealthy State cannot justify poor investment in mental health services.
Mr Cubbard said it was not sustainable that Pieta relies on public donations for around 80% of its funding
He said the Government had failed to deliver the level of mental health services required, particularly for young people, adding it's not acceptable that waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services have increased by more than 1,000 since 2020
Mike Cubbard also referred to concerns raised by The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland that any increases in funding are being offset by rising demand and higher costs.
Advertisement
He concluded that properly funded mental health services save lives.
