A total of 6,480 children are waiting for various treatments or assessments in the CHO 7 area, of which my constituency of Dublin South-West has the highest proportion. It would be appropriate to send a message to the families waiting for those assessments on World Mental Health day, particularly to the many parents who are going through the courts to try to get an assessment. They believe they will then get the supports they need. Unfortunately, children are not getting these supports because of key shortages and staffing cuts in the area. The waiting list is getting longer and, unfortunately, many people do not want to work in that area because of the problems in it. Can the Minister of State give a commitment that he will look at this area? I have raised this matter frequently over the past 12 months.

The Minister of State has the question.

Will the Minister of State have a look at the area and see what the problem is? I ask him to talk to the staff and see for himself-----

Deputy Crowe is stretching it.

-----the key staff that are missing. He should try to do something about it rather than giving us the same bland answer, that the Government is looking into it, all the time. We need early intervention which is not happening here.

We are much more than lucky. Last year's budget committed to 100 additional therapists to deal with this specific issue. That recruitment is finalised and those 100 therapists are in place, so we expect that to have an impact. Furthermore, as the Tánaiste mentioned earlier, 1,000 additional community posts, which will include many therapists, will also be provided next year as a result of the Sláintecare budget.

The Minister of State gave a commitment that those therapists would go this area.

I cannot specify where they are going to go. That is a matter for the HSE, which will recruit in accordance to need.