Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I cannot comment on individual cases. I can tell the Deputy that a huge amount of work has been done to reduce the CAMHS waiting list. I, too, have met with the organisation the Deputy talked about. It members are concerned about the potential dual diagnosis of children with autism and a mental health illness. I have to be very clear, and I have said this several times on the floor of the House, that CAMHS support is only needed for approximately 2% of children. Those children have a primary diagnosis of a mental health issue. Some children, for example, do not have such a diagnosis but have severe autism issues. That is where the difficulties arise. I have met with Families for Reform of CAMHS and attended the autism committee. The HSE is currently working on a programme to support these families.

On the additional €10 million that has been allocated, all of that money will be spent on youth mental health. The provision of a mental health intellectual disability, MHID, team is included in that.

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