Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will raise a number of issues, the first of which is that I am deeply concerned that the share of funding for mental health services is to fall dramatically to 5.2% in 2021. Given the pandemic, people are suffering greatly. I see that all of the time. I take phone calls from people who are in a desperate state. These calls come from all age groups. We need to do more. Provision must be made for more funding and more services.

I am also very concerned about the lack of psychologists for school-aged teenagers and so on. I am also concerned about CAMHS, that children are not being seen quickly, and the lack of a system for reports to be made to Deputies when we make representations to CAMHS with the consent of parents. These parents only come to us when there is a desperate need and when they are concerned. There needs to be more communication and collaboration with CAMHS. It needs to communicate with representatives who are trying to do their best for families in their constituencies. I appeal for that to happen. Children need to be seen quickly. Were it not for organisations such as Jigsaw and the great organisation, Accessible Counselling Tullamore, in County Offaly in my own constituency, things would be far worse. These organisations cannot, however, fill the gaps that are there. Those gaps need to be filled by Government, although the organisations will play their part. Government definitely needs to look at the funding, which is falling far short of the objectives of Sláintecare, which recommend that 10% of health moneys be allocated to mental health. I ask for that to be looked at.

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