In July 2020 there were 2,112 children waiting on a first-time appointment with CAMHS. Of those, 747 had been waiting for over a year. According to the reply I received this morning to a parliamentary question, there are 4,554 children now waiting on a first-time appointment with CAMHS, of whom 763 have been waiting for over a year. This is an eye-watering increase of more than 200% in children waiting on a first-time appointment. These are not just numbers. The Tánaiste knows this. They are not just numbers; they are children that have been identified as reaching the threshold for having severe or moderate mental health needs and they are in distress. Their parents are no longer wondering when their child will get treatment; they are now wondering if they will ever get treatment. My question is very simple. It has been two years since the CAMHS waiting list reached that threshold of 4,500 children waiting. What immediate action will the Government take today to, at least, address those who have been waiting over a year for a first-time appointment with CAMHS?

I thank Deputy Clarke for raising this very important issue. After I leave the Chamber I will discuss it directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who has responsibility for mental health. There are a number of actions that the Minister of State is already working on. I want to say that funding is not and will not be a constraint to this. There are real challenges around recruitment, retention of services and, more broadly, reform of CAMHS services. I will ask the Minister of State specifically to come back to the Deputy on what more can be done in the here and now. Nobody wants to see a child or young person left in a significant state of distress. Those numbers are far too high.