Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

The Minister of State has had a report for several years that claims the number of child inpatient beds needed is 148. With the rise in population, it has been calculated that the number now is 156. However he is proposing to establish only 80, 50% of the required beds. Some 16 and 17 year olds are inappropriately placed in adult psychiatric beds. How does he propose to tackle this problem? The Irish College of Psychiatrists has come out strongly on the need for proper care for this age group. Although the budget for psychiatric services has increased this year, will the Minister of State accept that since 1997 the percentage of the health budget allocated to the services has actually fallen from 11% to 7%? Is this not an indication of the Government's lack of attention to the development of the psychiatric services?

Will the Minister of State accept there is a deficit in the area of general psychiatric services? As a result there has been an increase in suicide. A vital approach to dealing with these issues is the provision of proper child and adolescent psychiatric services. Young children are not being treated for their difficulties. Due to the lack of resources, the service concentrates on the 12, 13 and 14 years old age groups. However, children in crisis at seven, eight and nine years of age are not being treated, leading to their difficulties becoming chronic.

In a recent reply to a parliamentary question on waiting lists for child and adolescent psychiatric services I was informed waiting periods are two years. This is inappropriate and unacceptable. Sexual abuse creates severe emotional problems for children and adolescents. Children abused by paedophiles have had to wait two years for counselling. Has the Minister of State any proposals to improve this situation?

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