The Minister with responsibility for mental health says there will be no u-turn on psychiatric bed closures at a Galway hospital.

Kathleen Lynch is also hitting out at what she called 'scaremongering' over the issue.

Last night saw around 150 people gather at St. Brigid's in Ballinasloe to protest and prevent the removal of beds.

A plan to take away 22 beds was first announced last summer as part of the 'Vision for Change' plan.

This morning Minister Lynch is rejecting claims that other facilities in Galway and Roscommon are overcrowded.

And she told Newstalk Breakfast that she is determined to follow through on the changes.