Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward the motion, which I will support as well as our amendment, tabled by the Regional Group. I wish I could say I welcome the fact I am going to speak on mental health for the tenth time in my 14-month political career. I commend the medical staff in Wexford who deal with mental health, particularly those in CAMHS and at Wexford General Hospital, who are all under severe pressure because of the staffing levels and the inadequate resources received. I thank the Minister of State for her intervention on Monday last in a very serious situation that arose, one we should not be dealing with in emergency cases. I thank her and the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, who, while his intervention was not required, tried to address the matter.

There is no child psychologist in the CAMHS unit in Arden House in Wexford. This has been the case for three years. The Minister has informed me that a child psychologist is about to be appointed. There are two applicants for this position, which has been vacant for more than three years. Neither of these applicants has yet been formally offered the position, allowing them to either accept or reject the offer. This leaves us in limbo. The children and families of Wexford are being let down by what seems to be a lack of administrative engagement in making an offer to these two applicants. I ask the Minister of State and all of her party colleagues in Government to address that issue. They should make someone in the HSE accountable for making an offer so that children in Wexford will no longer be disregarded and left without a child psychologist.

We have heard many Deputies talk today about the increased incidence of anorexia. Wexford has seen a serious increase but there is no paediatric dietician attached to either the hospital or to CAMHS. I am informed we are entitled to half a dietician. I ask that this be reviewed. Nobody should have to deal with half a dietician. The CAMHS team has acknowledged there has been an increase. Instead of half a dietician being appointed to Waterford and half a dietician to Wexford, I ask that this be reviewed because a full-time dietician is required in each area. I ask the Minister of State to treat this as a matter of urgency. Both situations need to be addressed. The Government cannot continue to launch campaigns without providing the staff required to allow them to meet the needs of the people. I appeal to the Minister of State and to the Government not to let this situation continue and not to continue to disregard the families, children, parents and people of County Wexford. We are as entitled to our services as the rest of the country.

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