Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his two questions. On the vaccine, I met with the executive mental health clinical directors on Tuesday afternoon and we discussed at length the situation relating to the vaccine. Public health nurses and those working for mental health services will come under cohort 2. Some 70,000 of those staff have been vaccinated and the roll-out will continue in the next couple of weeks.

On CAMHS, which is close to my heart, I met yesterday with the HSE in relation to the €23 million I secured in the budget. There will be 29 extra child and adolescent mental health staff put in place. The waiting list is currently at around 2,500 and I am anxious that it be reduced.

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