Mental health nurse contracts
Deputy Kelleher raises the failure to recruit mental health nurse graduates on permanent contracts despite programme commitments. The Tánaiste says CAMHS recruitment is progressing and will raise the matter with the Minister for Health.
The programme for Government, the supply and confidence agreement and A Vision for Change all refer to improving 24 hour service support and liaison teams for mental health in primary and emergency care. Last year the HR director of the HSE wrote to all nursing graduates to say that permanent contracts would be put in place. However, mental health nurse graduates are not being recruited on permanent contracts. I ask that the Tánaiste consider this in the context of the commitment in the programme for Government to ensuring there is adequate support and services for mental health nurses in primary care teams and emergency care teams.
Comment on this
There is a focus on mental health and ensuring that there are teams all over the country. There are now 64 teams in place under the CAMHS service which indicates that recruitment is successfully taking place. I will raise the point made by Deputy Kelleher with the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris.