Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We warned the Government that child and adolescent mental health services suffered during the Covid pandemic. We were given repeated commitments that efforts were being made, plans were being drafted, funds were being allocated and that the issue would be sorted. Things are now worse than ever before. There are 276 children in CH04 who have been waiting for more than 12 months. This is by far the largest number of children on waiting lists in the State.

Before Christmas, a constituent contacted me. She had to take her child to an accident and emergency department. She had been on a CAMHS waiting list for a long time. She was at serious risk of harming herself. She was discharged from the accident and emergency department with a letter for CAMHS. A week later still no letter had been received by CAMHS. The mother contacted me because she was distraught worrying about her daughter. I had to contact the HSE and everyone I could get on to.

Within an hour, we got that letter so that CAMHS could see that young girl. A Deputy should not have to send emails and make phone calls to everyone when it comes to life-saving treatment a child or adolescent needs. This is not a CAMHS issue alone. This goes to the whole issue of the crisis in the health service.

I also raise the issue of the Psychiatric Nurses Association and the statement it put out this week. The Minister is probably well aware of that statement, which referred to staffing levels in Eist Linn in Cork. It is a 16-bed unit, the only one in the southern region. I am hearing through the grapevine that Eist Linn is losing a significant number of staff. In the next few weeks, staffing levels will be only 58% of what they should be. Some of the staff are going to Australia because they will be better paid, better treated and will be able to access housing. This goes to the nub of staff retention, a point on which my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, touched. The Government is completely failing to enable access. That is the reality faced by children and adolescents in the mental health sector. The staff, children and their parents need to know what is happening in Eist Linn. Will the Minister give us an update on the proposed plans for the facility? Will he guarantee that no beds will be lost in that unit?

The Minister said earlier that he empathises. Parents of children and adolescents with mental health issues do not need empathy. They need help and support. I am asking the Minister to guarantee that none of those beds will be lost.

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