I am raising the issue of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, ARFID. I have raised the issue of young Riain from County Tipperary before. He cannot get proper treatment within the health service.

Will you repeat that, Deputy? We did not hear what you said about the disorder.

Sorry. I am speaking about ARFID and about Riain, a boy from County Tipperary whose case I have raised previously. He cannot get proper treatment within the health service, but he is not alone. More families are presenting with their own accounts of difficulty in accessing services, or even a pathway to treatment. Many get shoved from pillar to post between child and adolescent mental health services and the children's disability network teams, which just do not have the skills to treat people with ARFID who may also have autism spectrum disorder. People are being left aside. The health service is just not up to speed on ARFID, which is more common than even the families knew, such is the lack of proper services. Will the Tánaiste or the Minister for Health meet with these families to learn about their condition and the physical, emotional and financial impacts that a lack of medical pathways is having on them? Will they endeavour to improve the provision of services? Will either of them accept the offer to meet the families?

I liaise constantly with the providers of eating disorder supports throughout the country. Many young people are now presenting with eating disorders or disordered eating. Last year, 504 children, young people and adolescents presented to the eating disorder teams. When this scheme was initially put in place in 2018, when the relevant data were in place, it would have been expected that approximately 50 children per year would present. Some 504 children needed these vital supports last year. I assume the Deputy is referring to community healthcare organisation 5. Funding has been provided for an eating disorder team in this area. Multidisciplinary team recruitment is under way, but it takes between 12 and 18 months to put a multidisciplinary team in place. There are also many inpatient supports for children with eating disorders. If the Deputy sends me on the relevant details, I will have a look at them.

Will the Minister of State meet the families?

If the Deputy sends me on the details, I will have a look at them.