Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am more than disappointed by the reply from the Minister of State. It does not contain a significant amount of detail on the positions in question and the Minister of State has not answered my questions. The replies to parliamentary questions stated there is no intention or requirement to fill additional positions in areas where the waiting lists are unacceptable. What is the opinion of the Minister of State on this? How can it be the case that the HSE believes this is acceptable? It cannot be acceptable for people to wait six months for psychiatry services, as they are forced to in Carrigaline.

On top of that, when I asked these parliamentary questions in the late summer, many of the positions had not been filled. While I accept the Minister of State may not have the information to hand, will he furnish me later with information concerning a position required to be filled for psychology in the Douglas-Carrigaline sector, two positions in the two different sectors in south Lee for CAMHS psychology, a position for psychology in the south-east area, Blackrock, and other positions in CAMHS psychology? That still leaves places which the HSE or the CHO feel they are doing enough and there is no point in asking for more staff. I do not understand this. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could give us an insight into the target being used. Is it A Vision for Change or something else?

A significant number of our problems with mental health services are due to a lack of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, essentially a shortfall of staff. We have large numbers of students studying psychology and related courses but for whom becoming a psychologist is not a realistic career option because it is too expensive to gain the clinical experience they need to qualify as a clinical psychologist. We need to crack that. Many more people would like to be psychologists but they do not have the opportunity to do so.

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