Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what the Government accepts to be a very important issue. The Deputy in her question made reference to Maggie and other families who have approached Deputy McDonald. They have also approached Deputies on all sides of the House. Through our constituency work, of course, we are all deeply familiar with the challenges that are there for families and carers looking after young children, teenagers and young adults who are experiencing mental health difficulties and, at times, many other vulnerabilities and needs in their lives.

The Government will continue to act to make available resources to make a difference to those who need additional support and help in their lives. It is the reason that in community CAMHS teams we have seen an increase to 820 fully-funded posts. These are jobs funded by the Government throughout the length and breadth of the country to respond to Maggie and all the other young men and women who need the help that we, as a Government and an Oireachtas, want to give them. If I look at how this figure stands, it is an increase of 68 roles versus where we were last year. This will be further added to by an additional €10 million, which was announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. That will look at how we will provide additional roles and posts throughout the country where we accept they are seriously needed.

In terms of the budget available to respond to these many important needs, for the CAMHS element of the health services alone, it now stands at €146.5 million. In addition, a further €110 million is being provided to community-based organisations to help them to respond to the needs we know are there and to add to the services that are directly provided for and directly funded by the State.

In her very important question, the Deputy covered all the issues that we know are continuing. As I speak about these figures, and in acknowledging Maggie and all of the other lives that Deputies on this side of the House encounter too, I know, as we all know, the many stories of needs that need to be better met and of young lives that need additional support. This is why, for example, the Government has now ensured that, for the first time in the history of the State, we will have a national office for young mental health in the HSE. It is why the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, have ensured we now have a national clinical lead in the HSE and an assistant national director for children and youth mental health. These roles have been put in place to ensure this additional funding and these additional roles translate into the additional services the Government wants to see provided.

In terms of the additional measures that were provided in the budget this year to make a difference to those whom we know need further help, this is why we will expand multidisciplinary teams, led by CAMHS with all of the various health professionals in them, to respond to the lives we want to further help. It is why there will be made available, on a trial and pilot basis, the development of a central referral mechanism to better ensure the resources, money, jobs and posts we are making available go to those who need them most.

With regard to the specific question Deputy McDonald ended on, we will be putting forward this evening a timed amendment. The specific reason is that the Government will bring forward for, we hope, the summer legislative session-----

See this speech in context