Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ward for his question. The Maskey report contains 35 recommendations, the implementation of which will involve a range of actions by the Cork, Kerry Community Health Organisation, CHO, for Kerry south, as well as national actions.

As the Deputy knows, the audit of CAMHS is divided into three separate parts. The procurement process for the national audit of compliance with CAMHS operational guidelines is underway. This had to go out to tender. Proposals were received on 2 May 2022 and following assessment and in line with procurement procedures, a provider will be identified as soon as possible thereafter.

The successful provider will be requested to complete the audit within six months of appointment, but I want to see it completed before the end of the year. I am pushing really hard on that. There is a huge opportunity for us in relation to the 73 CAMHS teams, and to look at the complete area of oversight in relation to compliance.

An expert audit group on prescribing practice has been established. It is independently chaired by Dr. Colette Halpin, who was nominated by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. The audit group includes Dr. Imelda Whyte, who is a child psychiatry faculty chair, and Dr. Suzanne McCarthy, who is a senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy practice at University College Cork. We felt it was very important to include pharmacy because pharmacists have raised issues with regard to the prescriptions they receive coming across their counters.

The engagement of an academic partner to conduct qualitative research into CAMHS experiences is at an advanced stage. The research methodology for this audit strand will require ethical approval, and the process for securing same is under way. It is expected that the research into the experiences of children and young people attending CAMHS, their families, referrers and other key stakeholders can be completed within six months of the confirmation of the ethical approval.

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