Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to address a topic outlined in the programme for Government that pertains to the mental health services for children and adolescents. Only recently, the Fine Gael parliamentary party members engaged with the organisation Families for Reform of CAMHS, where we had the opportunity to listen to some profoundly distressing stories concerning the impact of the HSE on children and adolescent mental services, CAMHS, units on children nationwide. A recent report concerning the CAMHS within community healthcare organisation, CHO 2, encompassing counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, highlighted earlier this year that 311 children and young individuals are awaiting services. This issue of staffing levels and staff retention poses a significant risk. Families for Reform of CAMHS has identified ten distinctive reforms for which it is advocating. First and foremost of these reforms is the allocation of funding to ensure the provision of safe, effective and child-centred services. Moving forward, I ask that the Taoiseach give serious consideration to CAMHS reform.

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