Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In regard to the work programme. No doubt everyone on the committee recognised that mental health services in this State are wholly inadequate. We have seen in the media coverage of the report on south Kerry CAMHS that 227 children were exposed to risk of significant harm and that 46 children suffered significant harm.

We have seen coverage in the media of the report on CAMHS in south Kerry and the 227 children who were exposed to risk of significant harm and the 46 children who suffered significant harm. I expect there will be an inquiry into what occurred there.

The committee could play a role concerning our mental health services more broadly. We could invite representatives from the HSE to appear before us to address specific issues in the mental health services. We could seek to get detailed notes on those aspects beforehand, as well as having the relevant senior officials here, to allow us to engage on this subject.

I recall that it was only in December that we heard that €1.8 million of mental health funding was diverted to purchase electric vehicles for the HSE. If the committee agrees, I think we should make this issue a priority and ask HSE officials to appear before the committee at the earliest opportunity to address it. It is up to the committee, but perhaps we could set aside one of our meetings on a Thursday afternoon in the next few weeks for that purpose, if that might be possible.