Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I, too, call for a debate on youth mental health. I did not see the television programme last night but I received many telephone calls today from professionals who deal with many of the issues regarding childhood and adolescence, especially in the area of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD. Particularly in their transition from primary school to second level school where they are assessed, there is a lack of educational psychologists to deal with the problem. If there are psychologists being trained, I cannot understand why they are not being placed in the system.

This worries me because these children are a huge problem at the school. It also shows there is a total lack of co-ordination between the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science. The two Departments must be involved in how one deals with those children in the classroom. It is an impossible situation. There is a significant lack of authority and a debate on the issue would bring clarity on where we go from here.