James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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18. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the developments related to the working group seeking to streamline children’s access to mental health services here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52228/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Working Group referred to by the Deputy held its inaugural meeting on 19th January 2018. The group is co-chaired by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health.

The group is made up of senior officials from both Departments with representatives from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Health Service Executive.

The key objective of the working group is to examine psychological and mental health services for children and young people with the aim of agreeing a clear continuum of provision and strengthening alignment between providers.

In order to secure the best possible output it is essential to establish complete and up-to-date information on current provision. My officials have been working with Tusla to establish greater clarity around existing service availability and provision, with a view to ensuring that all respective inputs from the agencies provide a comprehensive overview of provision in this area.

Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 Tusla has responsibility for services relating to the psychological welfare of children and families but not for more acute services focusing on complex developmental issues and disabilities and more severe mental health problems. Community-based psychological services are delivered by the HSE with financial support from Tusla.

Tusla also deliver specific psychological services through the Assessment Consultation Therapy Service (ACTS). ACTS provides multidisciplinary consultation, assessment and focused interventions to young people with complex needs.

Tusla and the HSE have in place both a Memorandum of Understanding and a Joint Protocol for inter-agency collaboration among the two organisations. Discussions are ongoing between the two organisations to ensure collaboration is effective and sustained.

A key initiative that will further inform the work of the group is the Youth Mental Health Pathfinder Project, being established by the Department of Health. Progress in this area, aligned to a clear overview of existing provision and proposed plans from the agencies will identify gaps in provision, areas for alignment and areas for further development.

My Department will, in conjunction with the Department of Health, and with colleagues in our respective agencies, continue to collaborate with the aim of ensuring aligned and accessible service provision.