Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Deputy can, and maybe he does not need to ask the question.

By the end of August, approximately 140 of the 150 posts approved for CAMHS were filled.

The matter of most concern to me, which I have been working on for the past month or two, is that there are 46 child and adolescent beds nationally: 14 in Dublin, 12 in Cork and 20 in Galway. I am sorry; there are 20 beds in Cork. I am sick of being beaten over the head about children going into adult mental health units when there are beds available within the CAMHS. I know that because I have been looking into it. We need to ensure that where there are beds available in the child and adolescent services, that is the first port of call. We have to do this. Serious work has been done on it. We have put an individual in charge of that alone. I know we all feel it is much better that people are out in the community, but why is there a waiting list for inpatient delivery of mental health services? It does not exist in the adult service. It is a question of ensuring that the service works in a more productive way. I am very conscious of the fact that we are losing and will continue to lose nurses from the mental health services. They are entitled to retire at 55 because of the onerous task they perform daily. That is coming down the track very fast. A workforce plan is being developed because we know it is coming. I believe that if one knows something is happening it should not come as any big surprise. One should plan to alleviate whatever pressures it brings.

I am delighted that people take an interest in mental health. I know Deputy Ó Caoláin always has, as have Senator van Turnhout and Deputy Neville. That helps and has helped to change the narrative and the perception, which is good.