Mr. Donan Kelly:

I thank the Deputy. He will be aware that there has been a child and youth mental health improvement programme in the HSE overall. With the setting up of the office and my recent appointment - I have been in post for three weeks - we have an overarching plan that is under development. It is important to note that of those 49 recommendations, 31 are also in our Sharing the Vision implementation plan under the national mental health policy. Streams of work are already under way. It is important that we reach across all aspects of the work programme.

We have given an assurance to the Mental Health Commission that we will bring in its representatives and provide an overarching strategic plan by the end of this month. We are open to further discussions with them around implementation.

Some of the 49 recommendations are short term and others require longer-term investment and are part of that overarching plan for how we want child and youth mental health services to look in the future. It is going to take a period of time to address all of the recommendations, subject to funding.