Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions on this very important issue, and Deputy Ward in particular, who tabled the motion, which the Government will not oppose.

We all have children and young people in our lives, whether as part of our family, among our friends or in our community. Along with our relatives, friends and community, we take special care of them and attend to their needs. We want to protect and guide our children and equip them for the challenges of life ahead. As parents, we want the best for them, and when we look for help, we put our trust in those who help us. Unfortunately, in the case of the children and adolescent mental health services in south Kerry, that trust was broken. The report identified failings at multiple levels, in regard to how medications were prescribed but also to how the service was managed. It is important that there be accountability at individual and systemic level. Individual accountability is subject to due process and I cannot comment on individual cases, but systemic responsibility is something that can and will be addressed. My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is working closely with the HSE to ensure all 35 recommendations of the Maskey report will be implemented as soon as possible. Six are already complete and 13 have commenced implementation. Fortnightly updates on progress have also been sought. As the Minister of State noted, in addition to a national audit of compliance with existing operational guidelines among all CAMHS teams, an independent-led audit of prescribing practices among all teams, community and acute, will be carried out. I hope that in doing so, we can give some assurances to families that their children are safe and are receiving the appropriate care.

The issue of recruitment and the filling of posts is a perennial concern. It has to be acknowledged this is an international issue, common to many other health services and not specific to the HSE. However, we can do better. A total of 93% of consultant psychiatrist posts in CAMHS are filled, but the Maskey report has illustrated how unfilled posts can lead to serious systemic issues that can directly affect children and young people in contact with services. We have collectively to find ways to ensure our services are managed and delivered in line with high standards, issues with recruitment notwithstanding.

The report was stark in its findings and comprehensive in its recommendations. It did not shy away from difficult matters. The HSE has acknowledged its culpability in this regard and is committed to implementing the recommendations of this report. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has met many of the committed staff in mental health services throughout the country. I am sure they share our concerns for the families affected and want to deliver the best for children and young people in their care. An apology has been given to all the children and young people involved and representatives of the HSE have met 198 of the families. Although it is no consolation, it is a start to the process of making amends to right the wrongs that have so carelessly been allowed to happen for such a sustained period. In this context, as the Minister of State highlighted, the Government has committed to a non-adversarial scheme of compensation for those affected, with details to be confirmed.

The Minister of State acknowledged we face serious challenges in developing our mental health services, and part of that development will involve looking back, identifying failures and learning from them. We must also look forward, however, identify what works well, build on progress and expand services. We have a robust national mental health policy in place through Sharing the Vision, with the national implementation monitoring committee at its heart. As the Minister of State mentioned, we therefore have a strong policy framework that is fit for the future, to develop and deliver a modern and human rights-based mental health system. This will be complemented by Connecting for Life, the strategy for suicide prevention. We have established a trend of increasing budgets, with significant funding available for new developments year on year. This is not just a sign of the priority the Government places on mental health but is a recognition of the value placed on mental health by our society, something that is especially true as we find ourselves in the tail end of a pandemic that has put us all under unprecedented pressure.

I acknowledge also the significant progress being made on the legislative front in regard to updating and amending the Mental Health Act 2001. This will bring a rights-based approach to our mental health law and enhance the protections and safeguards for children and young people accessing specialist mental health services. With a modern legislative framework, a ten-year strategy and a record of investment, we have a good basis for progress in the years ahead to develop mental health services. In the context of mental health, the pandemic accelerated other modernisations such as telehealth, including text message lines and online and remote counselling and services, innovations that can undoubtedly benefit our young people. While social media can be misused for nefarious purposes, as a colleague said last week, our pandemic might have been much worse in terms of our isolation from one another without social media and the connections it brought. That is why it is important our mental health services can develop, in line with a blended-care approach, quality-assured online options for a tech-savvy, young population.

In wrapping up this evening’s debate on the motion, I want to once again acknowledge the impact of the Maskey report. Not one word of the report has been changed or redacted and it is exactly as Dr. Maskey reported. I urge that use be made of the information line 1800 742 800, which is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, for anyone affected by the report. Any young person who has concerns, or their family, should seek help without delay. The wide range of care services available provide real help that makes a real difference to many young people on a daily basis.

I know the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has heard, as I have, what fellow Deputies have said this evening. The challenges in the delivery of mental health services are well acknowledged. Importantly, progress has been made and these developments will be built upon to ensure that the fundamental improvements that are needed across our mental health system are achieved.

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