Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 October 2014
116. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the circumstances in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason the Health Service Executive has failed to provide psychology or psychotherapy; the reason a requested appointment has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40623/14]
View answerI have referred the issue to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency (the Agency) for attention and to furnish a report on the matter to my Officials. However, as this relates to an individual case, I would not consider it appropriate for me to comment here and I would note that the day to day management of a case is an operational matter for the Agency.
As the Deputy may be aware psychological and psychiatric services are provided by the Health Service Executive and that services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams (CAMHS) are currently within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health. The Government has prioritised development of mental health services, to complete implementation of A Vision for Change, and has provided additional funding of €125 million since 2012 for various new service initiatives. The Health Service Executive (HSE) Service Plan 2014 provides in the region of €766 million for mental health, and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams (CAMHS) are benefitting significantly through on-going service developments.
I have been informed that the HSE has commenced an initiative to improve various operational aspects of the CAMHS service, including access and use of CAMHS in-patient and community services, and that this involves, for example, looking in greater detail at trends in performance and underlying contributing factors, consultant capacity and availability, and correlation with other related services in regard to the nature or complexity of those waiting for service. This measure is supported by the new posts allocated to CAMHS over 2012-13. I have been advised that the HSE has statutory responsibility to deliver services at local level, and any issues relating to individual cases are an operational matter for the HSE.
