Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. The only problem is that some of these families have been waiting 15 years since the misdiagnoses and the overprescribing of antipsychotic medication to their children. They are suffering internally in their family units and their children are still suffering as a result of what happened. The random sample, I believe, will lead only to a look-back. At least 25 families have come to my office to ask that they be included in the north Kerry review. Unless there is a huge proportion of people coming into my office, which is highly unlikely, a full review will be necessary. It was announced eight months ago. It was supposed to have been published within six months. That has not happened. It is supposed to be announced this week. That is the latest I have been told. I was told that about a week ago. It is not happening. The families are getting more frustrated and the status of patients who were treated pre-2016 is still up in the air. The south Kerry difficulties dealt with a specific period from 2016 onward, but the Minister of State and I know that the problems were there before the HSE took over the Brothers of Charity Services in 2014, going back 15 or 16 years. Some of those patients are now in their mid-20s and are still suffering, so they are getting increasingly frustrated by what they see as inaction. Their problems will continue. A full look back is inevitable, in my view, because this is continuing and because it is so serious.

I ask the Minister of State to look into this - I know that she has called for it herself already - and to push the HSE into doing what will inevitably have to be done.

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