Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Lombard. I know this is an issue that is particularly close to his heart which I have heard him raise and articulate on a number of occasions, particularly how much it impacts the Cork and Kerry area, the region he is from. It is timely that we get to discuss this here today and shine a light on it.

The programme for government commits to improving all aspects of CAMHS in line with Sharing the Vision, Connecting for Life and the annual HSE service plans. The total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is more than €1.2 billion, which includes €137 million for CAMHS. A key objective is to improve access and address CAMHS waiting lists in the 75 CAMHS teams nationally, including Cork and Kerry, in light of increasing demand and case complexity. A significant development was approval by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, under budget 2023 for a new post of youth mental health lead at assistant national director level in the HSE, and a new clinical lead for youth mental health to provide more integrated services overall.

Approximately 2% of young people will require the specialist CAMHS service. Between 2020 and 2021, referral rates into CAMHS increased by 33%, while the number of new cases seen has increased by 21% in that same period. Waiting lists vary across community healthcare organisation, CHO, areas, as the Senator acknowledged. While some areas have relatively short waiting lists, regrettably, waiting times are longer in other CHOs. The HSE is actively working to reduce the CAMHS waiting list and there are a number of service improvement initiatives taking place as a result of the Maskey report and the Mental Health Commission interim reports. The HSE funds a wide range of agencies, such as Jigsaw, that provide prevention or early intervention mental health supports to young people.

In collaboration with local CAMHS services, a waiting list initiative is under way in six CHO areas, including CHO 4, specifically targeting those waiting longer than nine months. CAMHS community services in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare are delivered across ten community sector teams and also a child and adolescent regional eating disorder services, CAREDS, team. In addition, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare provide a CAMHS liaison service at Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital.

There has been a recent significant increase in the number of new referrals to CAMHS in this area. In September 2022, CAMHS received 219 new referrals in the month. In March 2023, this figure had increased to 267 new referrals. This has had an impact on the number of children waiting for services. As per March 2023 data, the total number of children waiting more than 12 months to be seen is 341.

The HSE is committed to improving access to all of its services. In this regard CAMHS teams in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare are taking a multifaceted approach to improving access to their services. An ADHD waiting list initiative has been approved for funding and, once operational, it is anticipated that the ADHD team will remove 120 children from the waiting list over six months. As the numbers waiting to access CAMHS in north Cork are particularly high, innovative telemedicine clinics are being developed for this area. Furthermore, additional consultant-led clinics are provided at weekends to support children and young people in north Cork to access assessment and supports.

I understand the human impact of this on these young adults, who need this support from the State, and on their families and the constituents the Senator deals with on a daily basis. I want to reassure the Senator and the families that the Government is aware of this issue. These waiting lists are not acceptable and we are working across agencies to bring all the different groups together that can impact this to make that change and to make significant progress on those unacceptable waiting lists.