Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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18. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care accessing CAMHS services; if there are waiting lists to access mental health services for children in care; if so, the average time of waiting to access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45727/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for his important question. Children in care are among the most vulnerable in our society. It is the role of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to ensure that their needs - in some cases very complex needs - are met. Some  children in care demonstrate a range of  emotional, psychological and mental health problems.

This is particularly the case where they have experienced prolonged neglect and where they come into care at an older age, or where they have other needs to be met, such as speech and language and learning difficulties.

When a child enters care, Tusla social workers consult with all of the key people involved in their lives, which of course includes the child themselves, relevant adults and professionals. This consultation helps Tusla develop a Care Plan that is tailored to the child's needs and to set out the best way to address these.

If a child is presenting with a mental health problem, the child's GP may refer them to their local CAMHS service.

If CAMHS support is not available, Tusla may seek other HSE counselling and therapeutic support. Tusla have also separately engaged private therapists to work with children, where their needs are not met elsewhere. Tusla do not collate national data on referrals of children in care to health services.

I would like to note that CAMHS is a function of the Health Services Executive, which comes under the remit of the Department of Health. As data on the waiting times for CAMHS is not reported to my Department, I would suggest that questions on waiting lists are better directed to  my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.