Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has described the increase in waiting lists for CAMHS first time appointments under this Government as a disgrace.

There has been an 81% increase on young people waiting for first time appointments since the Government was formed in 2020. This includes a staggering increase of 120% in the amount of young people who are waiting for over a year for an appointment with this vital service.

The Dublin Mid-West TD said:

“Nationally, there are 3842 of our young people currently waiting for appointments with CAMHS. When this Government was formed in 2020 the waiting list stood at 2115 children.

“This equates to an 81% increase on young people waiting for first time appointments since the Government was formed in 2020.

“491 of these children have been waiting for over a year for CAMHS services. When this Government was formed in 2020, those waiting over a year stood at 223 children.

“This equates to a staggering 120% increase in the amount of young people waiting for over a year for vital mental health supports from CAMHS.

“It is unacceptable for one young person to be waiting over a year, let alone 491 children.

“CAMHS is for young people with moderate to severe mental health problems and children with dual diagnosis of mental health and ASD are falling through the cracks. Those children with ADHD are often the children left longest on the waiting list.

“And while there has been some decrease recently in waiting times, the overall picture is stark.

“The Government delayed Sinn Féin legislation that will give statutory powers to the Mental Health Commission to regulate the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

“We have now had several damning reports by the Mental Health Commission into CAMHS. The most recent report from the Mental Health Commission made 49 recommendations to improve CAMHS services for patients, parents and staff.

“While the Mental Health Commission can make recommendations on governance and clinical reforms in CAMHS, they do not have the statutory authority to ensure that these recommendations will be implemented.

“That is what this legislation will do. I am calling on the Government to implement this legislation, as empowering the Mental Health Commission with the powers to improve CAMHS is the right thing to do.

“This legislation will help implement the governance and clinical reforms to help guarantee that all children have access to evidence-based and safe services, regardless of geographical location or ability to pay.

“If children do not get the early intervention they need, they are going to need the more acute services.

“This Minister was appointed in July 2020 when the number of children waiting on a first-time appointment with CAMHS was 2115. An 81% increase under her watch is a disgrace.

“This Government have failed our most vulnerable children.

“We can all get lost in statistics but behind each statistic is a young person, with hope, dreams and ambitions who are being denied by this Government the opportunity to reach their full potential.”