The programme for Government commits to ending the admission of children into adult psychiatric units by increasing inpatient beds, as well as examining the model used in assigning these beds. The truth of the matter is that there are no inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, beds in County Wexford. Children requiring inpatient care for their mental health must travel to the Eist Linn facility County Cork, which is a round trip of 348 km. That must be undertaken while coping with suicide ideation or a complete mental breakdown. This practice is unacceptable. This failure of young people has been ongoing for more than a decade. Many local parents and campaigners have been highlighting this issue relentlessly in recent years. When will CAMHS inpatient beds be provided in County Wexford? Children cannot continue to be shipped far from home or put into adult units while already facing so much trauma in their lives.

I was at a meeting during the week of the Cabinet subcommittee on social affairs and equality which dealt with the area of mental health. The Minister for State, Deputy Butler, gave a comprehensive presentation. One of the issues discussed was the need to continue to strengthen CAMHS, which has been improving in the area of dealing with waiting lists. The south east, in particular, however, has had challenges for some time in respect of appointments and the service itself. It is a priority of this Government to see if we can deal with that issue as quickly as we can.