Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Something we say quite often - sometimes, we trot it out without thinking - is that it is access to health services that is the problem and that, once we get in, the services are great. We said this a great deal during Covid. However, what we have seen from CAMHS in south Kerry is that that is not always the case. Given the Taoiseach's response today, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler's response, which I watched from my office, the other contributions so far and the other contributions that will follow, this issue has cut to everyone's core.

With mental illness, there is an extra degree of trust that family members have when young people are being treated. It is not like other illnesses. It is not like going in with a broken leg or cut where someone can see the treatment. It is not an easy-to-understand procedure like an operation. There are degrees to which medication needs to be provided or withdrawn. It is delicately balanced and complex. A great deal of trust goes into this type of care. That trust is difficult to build up and easily pierced, which is what has happened in this case.

The necessary audit of CAMHS must be swift and thorough and there must be consequences for what has happened. The whistleblower who brought it to light must be commended. It was not an easy thing to do but it was important. Whatever the pathways the families and young people at the centre of this case now face, they require the full support of the State. The State needs to work hard to build their trust back up and ensure that it provides the best possible care.

We constantly discuss recruitment. There was no consultant psychiatrist in south Kerry for six years. There still is none. What is the problem? Why can we not get a handle on recruitment? Given all the university courses and degree programmes, why are we not recruiting and retaining all the young people who have, for as long as I can remember, had a great desire to work in our health services? Why are we not able to attract people from outside our jurisdiction into our health services to fill these roles? There is a large number of roles at all grades across the health services, particularly mental health services, that have gone unfilled for a long time.

In her opening statement, the Minister of State mentioned - I hope I heard her correctly - the reinstatement of the role of national director for mental health. Is that her desire?

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