Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ward and his team for all the work they have done on this issue. Children's mental health services are in crisis. Instead of addressing the problem head on, the Government has allowed a crisis to become an emergency. In my constituency of Kildare South, 417 people are waiting to access CAMHS, with 27 of them waiting more than a year. This is totally unacceptable.

In the past week alone, I have had parents in my office desperately trying to get help for their child. They have gone everywhere and to everyone but there is no resolution. I mentioned this child to the Minister of State yesterday and I hope she will come back to me on the issue. The child cannot get a suitable school place and has received no respite or safeguarding. His mother has been told it is her job to supervise her child in the home and that if she did so properly, the child's situation would not be happening. That is deplorable. These parents are at their wits' end. CAMHS has failed them and their child in their hour of need. It is the job of CAMHS to be there for this family at their time of need but it has failed miserably to do so.

Children deserve better mental health services. How many reports and recommendations does the Minister of State need to do what is required? She and the Government have had years to implement the 49 recommendations from the Mental Health Commission. Instead, they have sat on their hands. We all know CAMHS does not come under the legislation to which reference was made. Why has the Government not moved on that? Sinn Féin will move on it for the sake of our children. Our Bill will give the Mental Health Commission the vital statutory powers to oversee and assist the HSE in implementing the recommendations and vital clinical reforms that are urgently needed.

How long will the Government stand idly by as our children and their families are left to suffer through a doubling of the waiting lists for first-time appointments? Children who are on the list are waiting a year or more to see someone. These children need to access services now, not in a year's time. It is past time that the Mental Health Commission is given the powers to ensure its recommendations are implemented. Children's mental health services cannot wait and our children cannot wait. I am beyond frustrated at the lack of support for our Bill this week. The Minister of State said that saving a young person's life is highly important. I absolutely agree with her but we must save the parents too.

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