John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their attendance. I wish Mr. Sullivan all the best in his role. It is my intention to work with him to try to improve services and to be of assistance by pointing out system failures. I have no doubt about the commitment of any of the witnesses to their roles. Sometimes, capacity and the sheer volume of what needs to be done makes it difficult.

On recruitment, the lack of a sufficient number of staff across every CAMHS team was pointed out to us. Very few teams are at full capacity and in many of them two or three key roles have still not been filled. For example, if a psychiatrist is not appointed, then everything further down the chain slips. Referrals continue to be made upwards but the person who makes the key decision is not in place. Every part of the team is key but if there is not a full team, it is very difficult to make progress and clear the waiting list. I believe there is an issue with the recruitment agency in the HSE, the national recruitment service, NRS. Work needs to be done to improve the operation of the NRS to ensure staff are at least in place and full teams are operating to try to clear the backlogs.

Does what the witnesses have laid out in the statement coincide with what they would call a clinical care pathway for any child or adult with mental health issues? For me, dealing with people, that is what I would like. If a parent comes in with a child who is having difficulties accessing the services, I would like a flow chart showing that care starts with the general practitioner, GP, and setting out where the person goes from there, and so on up the line. As a public representative, I would then know where and whom to contact to find out what is delaying a case.

Sometimes I feel great frustration in that I cannot seem to get help for someone because I am unsure where to start or finish. I get lucky sometimes when I get a helpful person at the end of the telephone. I would like to see the clinical care pathway for children and adults. That would be helpful for me as a representative of the Cork-Kerry region. I imagine the same applies to other Deputies and their respective regions. Is that what this is? Is that in place?