Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to have the debate. I thank the other member of the committee who was here tonight, Deputy Funchion, as well as the other Members who spoke. I gave apologies for my Fianna Fáil colleague Deputy O'Loughlin, who is abroad on behalf of the party.

Almost two thirds of children have experienced a stressful event of one sort or another by the time they reach nine years of age. We know this from the Growing Up in Ireland survey. This may be the death of a close family member, serious illness, moving house or another major event. These events undoubtedly impact on the well-being of young people. That same survey revealed that 23% of Irish nine year olds have social media or gaming profiles, that is, about 26% of boys and 21% of girls. At least I know that although my son says all of his friends take part in Internet gaming not all of them do. According to this survey, however, quite a few of them do. Boys' profiles are largely related to computer gaming, whereas those of girls tend to be on social media. In recent years we have become all too aware of the need to protect young people taking their first steps in life. As has been discussed already, perhaps the Minister will discuss the need for a digital safety commissioner with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton.

Mental health services for young people are outside the school system, and of course they belong in the health services. However, the reality is they are deeply lacking. Some 1,607 children have been waiting for a year or more to see a psychologist. As my colleague noted, 109 of them are under the age of four. Again, that is outside the school system. These are the challenges that people with acute mental health difficulties face. NEPS practitioners are not front-line psychologists by any means, although they do provide some assistance. We only have 180 NEPS psychologists but we have 4,000 schools. A lack of NEPS psychologists has undoubtedly contributed to a lack of well-being among certain students who are unable to get the resources or services that they need.

On the health side, the situation is the same in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. The latest figures show that while the Government has repeatedly claimed to be improving the capacity of CAMHS nationwide, almost 120 more children have been added to the list in the last year. We all know that from our constituency clinics. Constituents and principals come to us about the CAMHS services, trying to get some intervention. It obviously does not relate directly to school, but principals take a degree of responsibility when children have such a need for mental health services.

Mental health issues are complex. They do not suit one-size-fits-all solutions. However, a number of general principles are correct. Early intervention is critical. As has been said, schools acknowledge that they have a role in promoting and supporting positive mental health. By the age of 13, one in three young people in Ireland is likely to experience some type of mental disorder. I fully accept and emphasise that the Department of Education and Skills is not the only Department involved in this. I really do not lay this at the door of schools entirely. However, a holistic approach is needed in this area and the Department and schools need to play their respective roles.

I thank the Minister for his attendance and for listening to the debate and I hope that he will spend some time looking into this issue further, particularly where resources are concerned. We have spoken about NEPS, but guidance counselling is also relevant. I am delighted that guidance counselling is now part of the Government's strategy and that this particular cut has been largely, though not fully, undone. Given my party's position relative to that of the Government party, I have no doubt that it will be the subject of some discussions over the coming days and weeks, about which we will say no more on the floor of the Dáil.

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