87. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a mental health information database CAMHS consultant has been recruited to the children's disability network team for Sligo, Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan; if there are adequate supports for this role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9505/25]

Sentiment score: 0.18

I submitted a question on the issue of the MHID CAMHS consultant, but it was wrongly interpreted as referring to a "mental health information database" consultant rather than a "mental health intellectual disability" consultant. The intellectual disability service is required. We raised the issue in the Chamber several times of a child called Maggie in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, who was referred to the intellectual disability team, which has not existed. The first person recruited - the consultant - to that team was recruited last November and only stayed a week because there were no services other than herself. Now, they are trying to recruit somebody else. This question is about intellectual disability teams and services.

Sentiment score: 0.32

It is Question No. 87.

Sentiment score: -0.15

The CAMHS issue is an issue across the country. The Minister of State mentioned that it is one of her priorities. I will provide a second example in respect of CAMHS. A family's GP sent a letter to CAMHS to refer a child who needed to get into CAMHS. They received correspondence stating that there was no clinical lead for the CAMHS post in CHO 1, which covers Leitrim, east Sligo and west Cavan. The GP received a letter back saying that the child could not get a place in CAMHS and could not even be put on the waiting list to go into CAMHS. This is the situation across the country, but it is particularly acute in the Sligo-Leitrim region. There is no CAMHS service for any child. The principal in the local school in Ballinamore wrote to me regarding this. They had a child who also needed a referral but was informed that there is no access for the child to go to CAMHS. The letter, which came back to the family, said that if the child's mental health situation deteriorated, they had to go to the accident and emergency services. That is totally inappropriate. The Minister of State has said that this is her priority, but nobody sees that priority on the ground.

Sentiment score: -0.09

No.

Sentiment score: -0.30

I will get the letter for the Minister of State.

Sentiment score: 0.00

I will come back to the Minister of State with the specifics in respect of the case but the truth is that there are thousands of children across the country who cannot get access to CAMHS. I appreciate that there are more people being recruited but it does not meet the demand or come anywhere near meeting the demand. In team one in the Sligo, Leitrim region, the CAMHS team has no clinical lead. Having no clinical lead means that when a GP refers a child who needs a service, he or she gets a letter back saying "Sorry, there is no service. Go to accident and emergency." If the Minister of State thinks that is a good service being provided by the Government, then she needs to cop herself on.

Sentiment score: 0.03

The reality is that it is without support.

Sentiment score: -0.31