Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My budget does not run for only three months of the year. It runs from 1 January to 31 December and much of the spending happens throughout the year as we recruit. For example, last year we recruited 91 new people to mental health services. Some 10,362 people were working in mental health services in December 2021 and in December 2022 the number was 10,453. The budget runs for the whole year. It is important to acknowledge that there were 33% more referrals into CAMHS supports in the past two years. The total number of referrals in the area the Deputy referred to was 1,928 in 2022 and the waiting list is currently approximately 85 children and adolescents. Waiting list initiatives are under way across six CHOs including in the Deputy's area.

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