I have been made aware of a situation in my home county of Carlow. While the HSE advertised on Monday that it wishes to recruit experienced consultant psychiatrists for an acute hospital setting in general adult psychiatry, no psychiatrist currently serves young people, children or adults in the public health system in Carlow. I have had calls from constituents who either had to travel to neighbouring counties to get help or had to battle to get someone to see them in Carlow. This is particularly the case with children and young adults. Some of these children have attempted suicide or spoken with suicidal ideation. There is a brief advisory service whereby parents and guardians of young people up to 18 years of age are offered advice and guidance for common issues related to their children. Adults can attend for advice on their own issues. This is only by phone because of Covid. I must question this when so many other operations are continuing normally. I ask the Taoiseach to do his best on this because it is very serious, particularly now with mental health issues and the way we are during Covid.

I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue. She is correct in identifying mental health as a key issue and a key priority for society and for the Government. There is, and has been, an issue with the recruitment of psychiatrists, particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry and particularly in the south east. It is something the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, is very possessed of. At a recent Cabinet subcommittee meeting we discussed this, specifically with regard to the issues on the recruitment of consultants in psychiatry to our mental health service. I will follow this up with the Minister of State to give a response to the Deputy.