Vol. 487 No. 3
201 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to recent public complaints from the medical staff in the Mater Child Guidance Clinic in relation to their inability to deal with behaviourally disturbed teenagers because of a serious lack of resources; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to address this matter. [4193/98]
I am conscious of the need to consider the further development of services for behaviourally disturbed teenagers in health board areas including the catchment area served by the Mater Child Guidance Clinic.
The development of a comprehensive child and adolescent psychiatric service in each health board area has been identified as a priority in my Department's health strategy and a consultantled service is now available in each health board. My Department is currently in the process of formulating a policy document for the further development of these services including services directed towards dealing with behaviourally disturbed teenagers and the clinical director of child and adolescent psychiatric services in the Eastern Health Board has been commissioned to assist my Department in this task.
