Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and am glad that we are finally moving towards the appointment of that consultant. That is very welcome news today. I do not doubt the Minister of State's commitment to delivering on this service and appreciate that on the recruitment side, certain elements are outside the Minister of State's control. It is critical to get assurances now from CHO 5 that it will have the premises for this service secured in time for early 2024 and that the team are ready and able to work. I acknowledge the Minister of State is deeply committed to it but for a child, it should not depend on where they live as to when they have access to these services. Children or young people, no matter where they live in Ireland, should have equality of access to this vital service. Today, I appreciate the good news the Minister of State is bringing. However it is critical, and I do not want to see another Mental Health Commission report that highlights the problems in north Wexford and how the waiting lists there are among the longest anywhere in the country.