Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach acknowledged yesterday, the programme for Government contains a range of commitments relating to the mental health services in this State. We all know that improvements are desperately needed in this area, particularly in respect of building capacity in the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. The Ombudsman's annual report, which was published this week, highlights the shortfall in staffing levels within the CAMHS team and the effect that this has on children and young people. For some time, these teams across the State have been operating at 50% capacity. CHO1, which includes my county of Donegal, has the lowest level of staffing at 51% compared to the recommendations set out in A Vision for Change. That is completely unacceptable. We know the impact this has on young people and their families as well as the staff who are charged with their care. They all deserve better.

Promises were made by Government last year to address the disastrous staffing gaps within CAMHS. We were told it would be addressed-----

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