Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The HSE acts when it is contacted by the Mental Health Commission. Any safeguarding issues or concerns raised are dealt with promptly and appropriately by the HSE and the relevant CAMHS teams. At the same time, we must remember that thousands of children are receiving the support of CAMHS multidisciplinary teams on a daily basis. They receive good supports. I must try to build confidence in the service.

On the Maskey report, the Deputy is right. Unfortunately, the post in Kerry south has been funded since 2014 but the service has not been able to secure a consultant psychiatrist. One of the key recommendations of the Maskey report is that services look to outside sources to try to provide supports. This is the reason services are being delivered online to children and young people in Kerry south. The initial consultation is done by a consultant psychiatrist, not online. Following the initial consultation and assessment, supports are then provided online as part of the person's care.

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