Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for coming here today, for being so open, honest and frank with us and for giving us an insight, because, to be quite honest with them, we might not have had that before. We have been here a couple of months and I suppose today was a day when we got a better understanding. I thank them for that.

Earlier, Ms Magaharan spoke about the neurological conditions and she spoke about ASD in the same breath. It is something I would like her to expand on. Those listening today might want to know where the link is because in many of the other CHOs and CAMHS, they might be getting the run around. I am from Galway. I was at an ASD meeting yesterday and heard the voices of parents who were all getting the run around. That is why I want to focus in on that.

Dr. Aileen Murtagh spoke about what she has observed. In her presentation, she observed that the GPs are making referrals in order to get a quick appointment and also the use of medical beds. That is the point on which I want to come in. Deputy Browne discussed beds in adult wards. I am only talking about the use of medical beds maybe not meeting the needs of the children either, which is a huge issue.

Then I want to talk about the sixth class children who have never had an assessment all the way through and whose parents have tried to get into CAMHS - I would not say there are roadblocks - but whose needs assessment was not high enough to get support. Now they are in sixth class, a few weeks from going to secondary school, and they still have not got the supports. They are going into secondary school with nothing in place and the parents are panicking. My fear is they will end up back in CAMHS in a situation that is possibly a hell of a lot worse than if they had got the early intervention. I want to know about such children who are presenting and what sort of a workload it is to the witnesses.

The same happens for those aged 17 and a half where the issue possibly has floated along and there has not been the support. I want to hear what the witnesses are experiencing in terms of the frustration of the parents who do not know where to turn. What signposts can they show the parents, or are there signposts for parents? I asked a lot of questions there but that is what I want to cover.