John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, service in counties Carlow and Kilkenny is in such a crisis that it is commonplace now that nine-year-old kids are being brought to accident and emergency departments for attention only to be sedated with no service follow-up. Last week, on Friday, I notified CAMHS of a particular case and it was unable to respond. In fact, there was no one there to respond so the child ended up in the accident and emergency department. It is also not uncommon for a family to have to wait for five years for an assessment, while private assessments are not being recognised. Will the Taoiseach please intervene to ensure some action is taken to improve the services and to reach out to families who are traumatised by what is happening?

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