Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I draw the attention of the Minister of State to the fact that there are very severe shortcomings in the child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, in the Dublin 15 area. I draw his attention to a case I sent to the Department some time ago, on which I have yet to hear a response. It is typical of what a number of parents are experiencing. The consultant psychiatrist at the child and adult mental health service, CAMHS, in Castleknock took extended leave two months before the start of this year, with absolutely no indication of a return date. Since there is no psychiatrist available to prescribe, children with ADHD who require medication, very often to assist with their attendance at school and normal functioning, are unable to obtain their medication. Where does that leave the parents? The problem is ongoing. Throughout the service nationally, we are short approximately 60 psychiatrists. While the case I raise concerns Dublin 15, the area, unfortunately, is not untypical of the rest of the country.

The second case involves a 13 year old who has transferred to secondary school. The child has a range of conditions, from autism to behavioural issues and panic attacks. The child's mother is working practically full time. Both she and the child's father have jobs, but they do not know when they will receive help from the psychiatric service. There is no guarantee when this help will come.

The third case is that of a family who contacted me over the weekend. It concerns a young teenager who has developed severe mental health difficulties and had an emergency appointment, just for reference purposes. It appears that the earliest the child will get to talk to somebody is in about three months. It will simply be a counselling service.

We have had discussions here on mental health, an issue on which the Ceann Comhairle has led. We all know that children in need require very early access to services. When I was a Minister, I was very involved in ensuring the really lovely community facility in Corduff was opened. It was to have a child and adolescent mental health service. I know from the staff working there that there are simply not enough of them to enable this to happen. Everybody involved in government does his or her bit to help different areas - that is a matter in which I was very involved - but I am disappointed that in an area such as Dublin 15 which has a massive child and youth population, including a significant number of children with difficulties such as autism, ADHD and panic attacks, there is a lack of psychiatrists to meet children and provide them with a service in real time.

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