Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I assure her that the words "dismissive" or "dismissing" could never be attached to me or this Government when it comes to this issue. It is an issue on which everybody in this House and everybody in Ireland wants to make more progress. There has been a significant increase in mental health presentations, particularly among younger people, post Covid, not just in Ireland but internationally. We know the impact that recent years have had on our youngest citizens. I say to the parents and young people watching in that waiting lists are falling. That is not cold comfort; it is a real benefit to the young people coming off those lists, their families and their communities. Staff are being recruited. We can have debates about recruitment levels and workforce planning in the HSE. That is no problem, and I am happy to do it. On this issue, we should not mislead, accidentally or otherwise, because 130 additional posts are funded for the very services about which the Deputy is talking. Those staff will be recruited during the year.

The mental health Bill we are bringing forward will deal with the issue of oversight of all 76 CAMHS teams. A lot of good work is under way in this area and there is much more to do. The Government will have ongoing engagement with the advocacy group the Deputy mentioned.

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