Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was not going to talk at all because I am so angry. I am angry with the HSE and because Ms Comerford and Ms Murphy have had to go through this. There are parents who are still going through this and who will go through this for years to come.

It does not make any difference whether we throw money at it and how much money we throw at it, we seem to not have the clinicians to deal with it.

As a public representative, many parents have come to me over the years who needed their children assessed. One would ring the HSE and try to get in touch with the HSE to get appointments or one would ring Enable Ireland and do whatever one could to get the child an appointment as quickly as possible. To my embarrassment, sometimes, I have had to talk to parents whose children have not been getting the services they should have been and I have told them it might be time for them to walk away. Imagine having to say that to a parent. I have been in tears with parents over the years when they could not cope with their children any more because they have not been supported in caring for the child. Not getting the care for the child leads to the child going into residential care. There was no other choice but to tell the parents that to get the services they need they may have to walk away and let Tusla come in - and they will get every service under the sun then. I have had to do that with parents with a very heavy heart.

What is happening to our children today is shameful. I am a parent. I have children and foster children but I am in shock at what I am hearing today. There will be cases down the line where we have failed and where the HSE has failed the children of this State. What will be done about recruiting these clinicians? I feel that Mr. Noble should be where the HSE is. He is in the wrong job and should be over where Mr. Smyth is.