Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy and share his concerns about this area. I am having another meeting this evening with the officials who operate the national mental health services within the HSE. I agree with the Deputy that there is a difficulty. I have been doing a bit of research lately that may not be joy to the ears of those working within the service, but it is definite that some services are working extraordinarily well while other services simply are not. We must remember at all times that this is about the child. We are recruiting as best we can.

I am sure the Deputy also knows that there is a difficulty with recruitment processes. The new review will help that, but we must certainly take a serious look at whom we recruit, how we recruit them and the shortage that exists. The shortage deeply concerns me, but even more worrying is the fact that children are waiting longer than necessary for assessments.

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