Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Children and young people in this State deserve better mental health services and should not have to wait for a significant length of time to access them. Children with dual diagnoses of mental ill health and an intellectual disability are falling through the cracks, as are neurodiverse children. This is something I saw at first-hand as a child and family support worker in Tusla. I commend all those working in the area of youth and children's mental health. They are doing a very important and demanding job.

I received some statistics from Families for Reform of CAMHS which are absolutely shocking. People in this State have the highest level of difficulty accessing mental health services across 27 EU member states. Approximately 44% of Irish people had difficulty receiving treatment for a mental health issue compared with the EU average of 25%. In 2021, Ireland ranked in the bottom one third of 41 countries in the EU and OECD for child mental health. In 2020, the number of children aged between ten and 14 who were self-harming increased, indicating that the age of onset of self-harm is getting lower. Also in 2020, one in every 128 girls and one in every 233 boys between the ages of 15 and 19 presented to hospital due to self-harm. In 2017, Ireland ranked the highest in Europe for girls dying by suicide. These statistics are absolutely shocking.

This Bill states that the Mental Health Commission should be given statutory powers to oversee and assist the HSE in the implementation of the commission's recommendations on governance and clinical reform. It will also allow for the Mental Health Commission to monitor the implementation of any such recommendations and to publish a yearly report on progress. The Bill provides that the Mental Health Commission would publish an annual report on the status of the recommendations. Earlier today, my party leader, Deputy McDonald, asked for support for this Bill. I am very disappointed to hear that the Government will not be supporting it and will propose an amendment. The people in the Public Gallery tonight and our constituents will not forget this. Children deserve better mental health services.

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