Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I really appreciate that. As she knows, this is a vital, life-saving organisation.

I often criticise Government policies so I want to spend a bit of time talking about some of the things Sinn Féin would do if it had a chance to be in government. We have produced a mental health action plan comprising several policy documents over the past while. The plan contains a number of commitments that would transform how we deliver mental health services across the country. It sets out an absolute commitment to deliver widespread and significant change and a fresh start in mental health care. We would ensure that services are based on need and not on where a person lives, thus moving away from the postcode lottery of services. Our plan is based on fairness, access to high-quality local services, early intervention, prevention and suicide reduction. It is a raft of measures that would transform how mental health care is delivered.

I welcome the Mental Health Bill 2024 which, if passed, will reform the Mental Health Act. I hope we will get to Committee Stage of the Bill. In reality, it will not go through all Stages in the lifetime of this Government. I hope the next Government will pick it up and we can start running with it. I have mentioned to the Minister of State previously that, as it stands, CAMHS is still not regulated. It would be a great legacy for the Minister of State and the Government to regulate CAMHS before the election, whenever it is called. That would give parents and children who access the services the security of knowing they will get the care they need. I mentioned earlier that the staff who work in the service are really good and they really care. Sometimes they are let down by the systems and governance, however. Any regulation put in place before the end of this Government would be very welcome.

Sinn Féin would also deliver 47 additional CAMHS teams and 17 CAMHS-ID teams. Earlier today we heard Maggie's story and how there is no CAMHS-ID team in her catchment area. She is another victim of the postcode lottery. We need to have universal care across our services.

Sinn Féin would also deliver another 41 inpatient CAMHS beds. I was interested to hear what the Tánaiste said earlier. When the Government came into power, there were 72 CAMHS beds. There are 51 operational at the moment. That is a reduction, but only 36 or 37 of the beds are occupied at present. The reply I received yesterday to a parliamentary question I tabled stated that in 2023 - I do have the figures for 2024 - 740 children were admitted to paediatric wards for mental health care. I cannot see the reason for that if there are vacant CAMHS beds for people who need specialist mental health care. Why are these beds not being utilised? I acknowledge that the number of young people ending up in adult psychiatric facilities has been going down but we need to set the bar high on this and aim for zero.

In her opening statement the Minister of State referred to beds for people with eating disorders. There are still only three such beds for adults with eating disorders. We really need to improve on this. People with eating disorders are going onto general wards or non-specialist psychiatric wards and they are not getting the help they need.

I will give up my time and allow my colleagues in.

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