Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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2244.To ask the Minister for Health the average cost to the Government for CAMHS intervention per child and cost to train parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32126/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and I remain fully committed to the development of all aspects of mental health services nationally. Year-on-year funding for mental health services has increased to over €1.3 billion in 2024, with a strong focus on investing in youth mental health. Approximately €146.5 million is being provided to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) this year. In addition, €110m is provided to community-based mental health organisations and NGOs annually, with a significant portion dedicated to supporting young people.

I announced earlier this year a further €10 million to support clinical programmes and youth mental health, again highlighting the Government’s recognition of mental health as a central component to overall health. Examples of new CAMHS initiatives in 2024 include:

• Development of a Central Referral Mechanism
• Additional staff for CAMHS Hubs
• CAMHS Crisis Café
• CAMHS Emergency Department liaison posts
• Investment in a full electronic health record for every CAMHS team
• A new Youth Mental Health App
• Additional funding to allow Foróige and Jigsaw to develop mental health services in primary care and community services.

As detailed in the HSE National Service Plan 2024, CAMHS expects to receive approximately 23,000 referrals this year, of which approximately 13,700 of these referrals are expected to be seen by CAMHS in line with Operational Guidelines.

There continues to be growing demand for CAMHS, with the 76 community teams nationally delivering in excess of 240,000 appointments for children and young people in 2023.

CAMHS in-patient bed capacity is 72 beds nationally but currently, due to a range of issues, there are 51 beds in operation. There are 72 HSE CAMHS in-patient beds nationally located across four facilities: 24 in Linn Dara in Dublin, 12 in St Joseph’s (part of St Vincent’s, Fairview), 16 in Eist Linn in Cork, and 20 in Merlin Park in Galway.

All four HSE CAMHS units nationally work collaboratively to maximise the use of national CAMHS bed capacity. Despite acknowledged difficulties around staff recruitment and retention, that can sometimes lead to temporary bed closures within individual units, the HSE strive to have all beds fully operational, in a clinically safe and sustainable manner on a 24/7 basis. The HSE use all available options to care for urgent cases, including private providers.

In terms of access to wider supports for children, while CAMHS is not suitable for children or adolescents where their difficulties are primarily related to learning problems, social problems, or behavioural problems, there are many other services available to assist these young people such as HSE Primary Care Services, HSE Disability Services, TUSLA, Jigsaw, and National Educational Psychology Services (NEPS).

Given the complexities and emerging demands involved in CAMHS overall, including at individual care level, it is not possible to indicate an average costing being sought by the Deputy. In addition, HSE CAMHS does not train parents, but does give appropriate professional advice in individual cases to children and their families, including Advocacy and Peer Supports.

I understand that the Deputy was trying to clarify some aspects of this question. If the Deputy still has any outstanding matters, he can raise these with me again or contact the HSE direct to follow these up.