Dr. Amanda Burke:

We are currently going through an exercise of validation of the waiting list. As Mr. Kelly stated, there can be people on multiple waiting lists. In addition to validation, we need visibility on who is waiting for what. The Cathaoirleach has alluded to gaps in certain areas. It is a matter of national oversight, including oversight of who is waiting. Many of the young people waiting are waiting for ADHD assessments. We have a new lead for ADHD who will be developing a pathway. If we have a national overview, we can target those concerned through waiting list initiatives, stabilise young people on treatment and feed them back to their community mental health teams. Similarly, if there are young people waiting for anxiety treatment or cognitive behavioural therapy treatment programmes, it is possible to target them at group level rather than at the level of each team. That would be more effective. We will have to take a two-tier approach. Most of the community teams are currently tied up with urgent and emergency cases, which is why they are not getting to the routine cases. Therefore, we will have to dedicate staff specifically to dealing with people on waiting lists.