Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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520. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which child psychiatric services have been called upon at primary and secondary level schools, annually, over the past six years; the extent to which the services are adequate to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9302/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I can inform the Deputy that my department has provided guidelines to post-primary, and more recently to primary schools, offering practical assistance and advice on the development of structures to promote positive mental health in schools and in assisting pupils with mental health difficulties.

The guidelines advise that in the event of pupils presenting with mental health difficulties which are above and beyond the school's capacity and ability to support, school authorities should identify and access the referral pathways for the various primary and secondary healthcare services in their particular area. My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is available to advise schools on the matter.

Referrals should, of course, be undertaken with Parental or Guardian consent and collaboration, except in an exceptional situation where there may be child protection issues.

In normal circumstances referral to Clinical Psychology Services and to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is made through the student's GP although they are sometimes actioned by other healthcare / educational professionals and in some situations by direct contact between schools authorities and CAMHS staff. Detail of these referrals, are held at individual school level and my Department does not gather the particulars and extent thereof.

Perhaps the Deputy might direct this enquiry in this regard to the appropriate HSE service.