Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ward for tabling this motion. Put simply, we cannot continue to ignore the reality of mental illness. We do not tolerate waiting lists for passports, driving licences or, indeed, vaccinations. Yet, for mental health treatment, waiting lists are normal and accepted.

Mr. John Farrelly, chief executive of the Mental Health Commission, last month identified the issue at the centre of today’s motion. The pandemic has highlighted the results of continued underinvestment in our mental health services: increased waiting lists, an over-reliance on GPs and communities to provide care, and assigned money going unspent.

Thanks to figures secured by the Social Democrats co-leader, Deputy Shortall, we know that, as of December, 2,736 children are waiting on an appointment with community CAMHS. That includes 448 in the Cork-Kerry region, with 98 children and adolescents waiting more than a year. Unfortunately, the HSE does not have national data on waiting lists for adults and older adult mental health teams, which is an issue in itself.

This motion articulates many of the major issues in the State’s response to mental health, especially at a time when community and voluntary front-line services are experiencing an unprecedented demand for mental health services. There are two particular issues which I want to focus on today.

In February, I raised the shocking situation whereby no funding was allocated under the national eating disorder treatment plan for 2020 and none of the €1.6 million allocated in 2019 was spent. Responses to my parliamentary questions revealed the decision to pause temporarily the nationally planned development of eating disorder services was made for operational rather than clinical reasons and that funding was diverted to meet existing demands to provide additional clinical supports such as agency staffing. We need clear assurances this will not happen again. Bureaucratic decisions cannot be allowed to affect the treatment of vulnerable groups.

My colleague, Deputy Gannon, has tabled an amendment to ensure dedicated, ring-fenced funding for eating disorders annually and to ensure a community eating disorder team is deployed in every community healthcare organisation area. I ask all Members to support this vital amendment.

In February, I also highlighted the fact eating disorders, which disproportionately present among young women, are among the psychiatric conditions most associated with mortality.

The Minister of State assured me then that she was aware of the issues and was working with HSE clinical programme leaders to spend the money this year. However, in the meantime there has been several cases of young women having difficulties accessing appropriate medical care for severe eating disorders. These cases indicate that there is still a significant gap between the Government’s intentions and healthcare services on the ground for people who need them. The HSE currently provides three inpatient beds for eating disorders. People who desperately need care simply cannot get it. If the Minister of Sate has not read the piece in the Evening Echo on one woman's experience, I hope that she will today. I beg her to please intervene and do something about this.

Second, I want to raise counselling services. The system of professional low-cost community-based counselling services in Ireland has had its funding cut by 50% since 2011. These are front-line community, voluntary and non-profit agencies who have continued to deliver counselling through the pandemic. State agencies, including Tusla, CAMHS, and the Garda, often refer people to these counselling services, yet their funding does not reflect the crucial role they play. This sector represents incredible value for money. In 2018, member organisations of the Association of Agency-based Counselling & Psychotherapy in Ireland provided more than 70,000 hours of therapy for €2.8 million. This community-based, not-for-profit sector needs its funding restored, and needs a commitment to multi-annual funding. In addition, the Government must make a commitment to review the current model of funding of sections 38 and 39 Tusla-funded organisations.

I presume the motion’s call for an emergency talk therapy fund for sessions in the private system will allow for funding to go to the community-based, not-for-profit sector also. If one of the proposers could clarify that in their closing statement, it would be appreciated.

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