Sinn Féin announce motion to protect children’s mental health services

The Private Member’s Bill will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday and urges the government to
address the growing crisis in mental health services for children and young people.
Speaking today, Teachta Browne said:
“Sinn Féin will bring forward a motion in the Dáil to protect children’s mental health services. For far
too long, mental health services for children and young people have been at crisis point and patients
simply aren’t getting the timely, high-quality care that they deserve.
“Mental health services must receive adequate funding and resourcing to ensure that they are fit for
purpose. It has been clear for some time now that mental health services in this country are
scandalously over-stretched.
“Sinn Féin recently exposed through a parliamentary question that in CHO3 which includes North
Tipperary, 355 children are waiting for mental health treatment. For the CHO5 area which includes
South Tipperary, the figure is 221. This is scandalous. Children in Tipperary deserve better.
“Sinn Féin’s motion would end this scandal by protecting mental health services for children and
young people.
“Our motion calls on the government to tackle extreme waiting lists and clinical oversight
deficiencies in child and adolescent health services. It demands that the government put in place a
proactive strategy for the recruitment and retention of psychologists across CAMHS. It also calls for
legislation to end the practice of placing children into adult psychiatric facilities.
“As has been exposed in Kerry CAMHS recently, there is not enough accountability for the delivery of
mental health services. This must change.
“It is vital that lessons are learnt from this scandal and that action is taken now to support these
families and ensure that they get justice.
“Our motion calls for the government to immediately put in place supports for the children and
families affected by the malpractice in South Kerry CAMHS. It also demands that a review is
conducted and published into the treatment of the South Kerry CAMHS whistle-blower and the
circumstances around his change in duties which led to his resignation from the service.
“I am calling for all TDs to support children’s mental health services and support Sinn Féin’s motion
in the Dáil this week. The government must act now. There can be no more delays or excuses.”