Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this topic. The report on the look-back review into CAMHS services in south Kerry is a damning one on a disgraceful situation. I commend the whistleblower on coming forward and on what that has done. We would not do what was done here to animals, and that is being honest. I also bring another situation in the youth mental health services to the attention of the Minister of State. If children have autism and mental health issues, there is nothing in this country to help them. They are on their own. One of the speakers mentioned early intervention. There is zero intervention for these people or their families.

I listened to Neil Prendeville's radio programme on Red FM this morning. I heard mothers speaking about their autistic children and how they have got zero help. Those children's mental health has not been addressed because they are not even getting assessments. The mental health of the families and the children's siblings has been destroyed. I have heard of cases where children were chewing dog leads and eating the bannisters of stairs. The Minister of State may not be aware of this, but during the last Dáil I worked with Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin on disability issues as well as mental health matters. Families told me about situations where they put their own children into Alsatian dog cages in the kitchens of their houses when the mental health issues kicked off. That was for their safety and that of the rest of their family.

While we are focusing on this subject of youth, child and adolescent mental health services, there is a huge gap in our mental health and autism services that must be addressed. Regarding what is happening here, all children in this country have a right to the best life that a parent can give them. They need assistance at times, but the problem is that the State has failed us. I am blue in the face from coming in here to talk about mental health issues and the lack of services over the years. There must be a root-and-branch change in this area. I welcome the positive things that have been done, and I always will. The Minister of State will always get credit where it is due. She should listen back, however, to the parents who were speaking on that radio show this morning. Hundreds, if not thousands, of families are going through the same pain and suffering, but they will never get access to mental health services or assistance because their child has another disability. I hate using that word. Families feel that their children are being abused in their own homes, not by their families but by the Government because of its failure to provide the services.

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