Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge Deputy Browne for highlighting the issue and for bringing forward the motion. In its 2018 annual report, the Mental Health Commission highlighted the ongoing crisis around child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. While the total number of admissions of people under the age of 18 to approved centres last year fell, there were 84 admissions to 18 adult units during last year. In the report, the commission chief executive Mr. John Farrelly stated that "the placement of any child in any adult unit indicates a gap in service provision". A place that is not equipped for their needs should not be the first introduction of a person in a distressed state to a service.

The long waiting lists for CAMHS stem from the service having barely more than half the staff required. It seems it is not the only mental health service suffering due to problems in recruitment; waiting lists and bed shortages are common throughout the service. It suggests there is a postcode lottery. Tá dúshlán mór ann maidir le sláinte meoin agus an tseirbhís atá á gcur ar fáil, go háirithe do dhéagóirí agus do dhaoine óga. Caithfimid dul i ngleic leis seo, rud atá léirithe arís agus arís eile. Feicimid é arís san tuarascáil bhliantúil go gcaithfimid tabhairt faoi an dúshlán seo le fuinneamh gan a thuilleadh moille.

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