Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I am deputising for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, I cannot give the Senator a date and time. There is no doubt that the issues around youth mental health span many Departments and improved co-ordination in this area is needed. Improving access to youth mental health services for children and their families remains a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Department of Health. The fact that the pathfinder project is a programme for Government commitment also highlights how this Government is committed to ensuring that interdepartmental collaborative work is best used to ensure that mental health services are integrated, accessible and signposted.

While the Covid pandemic may have delayed the formal progression of pathfinder, I can confirm to the Senator that the important work on the delivery of its priorities has continued at pace. This can be seen in the establishment of the new assistant national director post of youth mental health and the inclusion of youth mental health as a spotlight project for the forthcoming national policy framework for children and young people. There will be further updates on this work as the year progresses.