Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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I might just read out a question from Senator Flynn that she passed on to me. In the note, she apologises for her absence today. She is speaking at the national Traveller mental health conference in Croke Park, so cannot be here. She notes:

This week is college awareness week, and students across the country are planning their paths to college as we speak. Unfortunately, only 1% of the students who make it to third level will be from the Travelling community. This is the harsh reality. To bridge this gap we must start with wraparound supports, particularly for marginalised groups, as early as primary school level. My question is for the Ombudsman for Children. In your opening statement you mentioned the English model, which involves providing mental health supports to school children using a joint approach from the Department of Education and the Department of Health via the NHS. This joint working saw a reduction of close to 1,000 children on the CAMHS waiting list in the past year in just one area that serves ten schools. This can be seen in stark contrast to Ireland, where in the past year the CAMHS waiting list has grown. Can you elaborate on this model and tell the committee why it is important that the Irish Government should take the lead on this?

I am asking the question on behalf of Senator Flynn.