Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, we must do due diligence. These audits will cost quite a lot of money. Obviously that is not the issue but they must be done right. We will get real-time data that we have never had before. We have been talking about the waiting lists in CAMHS for so many years and we have been talking about the challenges. I welcome that we will have these data but I want it completed before the end of the year. The six-month timeline was always there. I meet regularly with the HSE to move this along.

The Mental Health Commission is also doing its own review, as opposed to an audit. I met with Dr. Susan Finnerty again last week. The commission has commenced that review and it is up and running. I welcome that the Mental Health Commission is doing a review at the same time the HSE is doing an audit. There will be great comparisons to be made at that time.

On the Deputy's specific question on the south Kerry CAMHS, that post is still vacant but not for the want of trying and not for the want of funding. Huge improvements have been made and I will come back to the Deputy on those.

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