Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a reference on page 66 of the programme for Government to building further capacity in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. On page 75 there is a reference to "Prioritising the Early Years" and on page 80 to "Giving Vulnerable Young People the Best Chance in Life". I put it to the Taoiseach that so far the programme for Government has been an abject failure in the context of CAMHS. As a trained physician himself, what is the Taoiseach going to do to meet the very reasonable demands of the Enough is Enough national campaign? I speak on behalf of Deputy Scanlon and myself - I am sure Deputy Martin Kenny would agree - in saying that Sligo represents a case in point given that there are some 400 children on a waiting list, many for years, and that 87 of them are in serious need of help. Up to recently, they have only had the benefit of the goodwill of a retired psychiatrist who returned to give 20 hours in order to see the urgent cases. We gather that a locum has been put in place recently for a longer period. Will the Taoiseach take action in respect of this matter and, if necessary, use the €15 billion that still has not been touched in terms of the National Treatment Purchase Fund in order to look after those most vulnerable children in society? In raising this matter, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the presence in the Gallery of members of the Enough is Enough campaign from around the country, including Councillor Healy and others from the north west.

See this speech in context