Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of our guests for coming before the committee this morning, for their opening statements and for the excellent work they and their organisations do on behalf of young people. I hear what they have said about resources loud and clear. That will very much be reflected in the report of the committee. I also hear what Ms Murray has said about the need to recognise that teachers have limitations and how we cannot expect teachers to fulfil roles for which they are not qualified and which it would not be fair to ask them to fulfil.

I will start with Ms Murray. In her statement, she mentioned that there has been a significant increase in the incidence of anxiety and depression over the past decade. We are consistently hearing the theme that the incidence of anxiety and mental health challenges among adolescents is increasing. Is it the case that people just feel more comfortable talking about it or does Ms Murray believe there is an empirical increase in the incidence of these conditions? If there is, what is causing it?