Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I share their concerns, as do the people who are providing the service. They understand the difficulty they are facing and the impact it is having on the young people in the area.

It is the policy of the HSE, under its annual service plan, to provide an age-appropriate mental health service for those under the age of 18. Mental health remains a key care programme priority for this Government, reflected by the fact that the HSE mental health budget increased from around €826 million in 2016 to approximately €853 million this year. The HSE service plan for 2017 commits to further development of child and adolescent mental health services, including better out-of-hours liaison and seven-day response services. This is a strategic priority action in the plan, against a background where the population of children is expected to increase by over 8,500 in the period 2016 to 2017, thereby creating additional demand on CAMHS. Approximately 18,500 referrals are expected to HSE CAMHS services this year alone.

CAMHS has been prioritised in new funding made available by the Government since 2012. Additional resources and facilities mean there are now 67 CAMHS teams and three paediatric liaison teams, supported by 66 operational CAMHS beds nationally with further beds planned to come on stream in the near future. CAMHS services in Cork have eight community-based teams. Two of the teams have consultant vacancies, namely team C - Western Road, and North Lee North. Team C has had a vacant psychology post since Christmas 2016, but the executive recently secured a person to fill this post. There have been widely acknowledged difficulties in recruiting and retaining specialist CAMHS staff, particularly consultant psychiatrists, which all of the Deputies have recognised. Recruitment efforts have been ongoing including local and international advertising for a locum consultant in Cork, which have not yielded any success. Unfortunately, there is currently a serious shortage of suitably qualified CAMHS consultants at both national and European level.

The HSE is working to provide the best possible service within available staffing resources. A key focus is on managing clinical risks and prioritising referrals accordingly. All efforts are being made to support teams with additional therapy and administrative resources, notwithstanding the consultant vacancy, to ensure that the best possible service is provided. The rest of the multi-disciplinary team associated with team C continues to provide a service to those deemed within their scope of practice. Unfortunately, however, those requiring consultant or psychologist review are currently on a waiting list. The HSE acknowledges that the lack of consultant cover is having a considerable impact on access to the service locally. It is working to explore all avenues for the recruitment of qualified staff to fill vacancies and to replace staff retiring or resigning, particularly in areas such as consultant, psychologist and nursing posts.

4 o’clock

I have spoken to Sinead Glennon, head of mental health services in the Cork-Kerry area. I absolutely believe that every stone is being turned and every possible avenue is being looked at to try to fill these posts and cover weekends or various parts of the day. Bearing in mind all of the circumstances, I am satisfied the HSE is making every effort to address this, including the prioritising of cases based on assessed professional need. In other words, I am assured that urgent cases are being prioritised and seen within the recommended level of time. I will continue to monitor this closely in conjunction with the HSE.

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