Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy very much for raising this important issue. As he knows, since I became the Minister of State responsible for mental health, we have had a new vision – Sharing the Vision – and a strategy. We have a national implementation monitoring committee to ensure the vision is realised. As part of this, I have tasked a subcommittee in CAMHS to investigate exactly what the Deputy is talking about, namely the ageing out of people at 18. In a case like the one mentioned or that of someone with an eating disorder in the care of CAMHS for three or four years, it is very problematic to be aged out at 18. Obviously, it is a really serious time in the individual's life. I think the case mentioned has been brought to my attention yesterday, but the Deputy might send me the details. I assume it is the same case because it sounds similar. I have already made a representation on it this morning, but I will be happy to discuss it with the Deputy.

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