James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for raising the matter. It provides an opportunity to communicate with service users as well as service providers. It is the responsibility of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who cannot be here due to a family bereavement. I apologise on her behalf and note that our thoughts and wishes are with her. I will discuss the matter with her. I have no doubt that she will be in a position to communicate a clear message to the services concerned. The question of whether it is more appropriate that referrals be carried out through certain pathways rather than in a broader sense is a matter for further discussion given the hugely increased pressure under which the service has come. That increase in pressure is evidenced by the statistics I have just set out to the Chamber.

The Government is committed to dealing with mental health issues and to ending the situation whereby children with serious mental health issues are admitted to adult facilities. We have reduced the incidence of that considerably. We are committed to ensuring that people are looked after in the community, which is the first line of defence. That is appropriate because it is where most needs can be met and it is far more convenient for parents and their children not to have to spend a great deal of time travelling to specialist clinics. It would be better to have local clinics accessed through local referral pathways.

I will certainly raise the Deputy's concerns with the Minister of State and we will clarify matters. The note from the Department is very clear that the current system of referral has not changed. I note from the document the Deputy read out the suggestion that it might be best done through the general practitioner. I do not have a difficulty with that but I accept equally that school teachers who are dealing with children on a daily basis are often skilled at detecting problems that might require further investigation. Such teachers should be facilitated for the sake of the child, which is what we are all interested in.

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