I together with my colleagues in the Independent Regional Group of TDs have submitted a request to the Ceann Comhairle to suspend Dáil Éireann tomorrow Tuesday to ensure that the Minister for Health addresses Dáil Éireann and outlines the immediate steps which are to be taken to protect children and to ensure proper access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services considering the publication of an interim report by the Mental Health Commission into CAMHS services.

The Interim Report by Dr Finnerty highlights very serious safety concerns. The report calls for immediate clinical review of all open cases in all CAMHS teams.

The report goes on to describe a dysfunctional system, a lack of out-of-hours support, long waiting lists, staffing issues, and inability to provide therapeutic interventions. Children are not receiving follow-up care and are getting lost in the system.

In light of these findings, we have submitted a formal request to the Ceann Comhairle asking him to suspend the Dáil so this urgent matter can be discussed tomorrow, Tuesday.
Our mental health service is in crisis and affecting those who are most vulnerable, our children.
In 2020, this Government supported the Regional Group Members Mental Health Motion. It called on the Government to protect not only the population’s physical health, but its mental health. Since then little has been done to address the issues highlighted with children mental health services.