Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important topic. I acknowledge the fact that the report would not be out there without the Minister of State asking for it. I acknowledge that and the work she has done. I know she has an interest in the area.

My concerns regard CHO 3. The Minister of State would not expect anything else from me. The report on CHO 3 was the most damaging of the lot. Some 140 children were concerned. I hope they have all been contacted and I believe they have. A number of families contacted me about children who were 17 or 18 and still in school. We kept being told that those children were in the system and would be contacted. My understanding is those families were only contacted very recently. Two of those children are now over 18. That is frightening.

Children have to be able to access services. I know that some children receive many follow-up calls and might be seen at a clinic. However, if they need to be admitted for one reason or another, they must access adult services because there is nowhere for children in the CHO 3 region.It was a shock for their families to receive the report and hear highlighted in the news the stories of people being oversubscribed with medication. I know from speaking to some of the families that they experienced this horrific set of circumstances. I acknowledge that so many who work in the services do a very good job and are very responsive.

I apologise for not being here for the Minister of State’s opening statement; I was at a committee meeting. Perhaps she could highlight some of the responses to date and the current position. When will we expect to see the proposed resolutions to some of the issues highlighted, certainly by the families and especially regarding CHO 3?

Some people I know would benefit from a telephone call or from seeing the doctor in person. How long are the waiting lists in CHO 3? Perhaps the Minister of State cannot answer that today but perhaps she can revert to me on it. Is there a plan to have a CAMHS unit in the mid-west that people can access? Some have to go to Cork and others to Dublin. I thank the Minister of State.