Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy O'Reilly recognises that a very specific provision was made in the recent pay agreement that, where there is difficulty in recruiting in particular grades, there would be a process under which the Public Service Pay Commission would examine the case and come back to Government with specific recommendations based on the evidence. It is right that that approach be taken. I understand the issues the Deputies are raising because I see them myself in my own work. There is a huge surge in need in this area. I know the number of children being cared for in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, has increased by 40%. That is the number getting services, but there are still waiting lists and those lists are expanding. This is an area of very high growth in need. There is a real difficulty in recruiting not just in Ireland, but in other countries.

One of the responses has to be to rebuild our primary care service in the mental health area, which we have neglected. We have relied too much on a consultant-led service and we need to develop a more coherent response in this area. That is what is being worked on.

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