The report of the investigation into mental healthcare given to children and young people in Kerry has now been published. The young people affected, their distraught parents and their families have waited years for answers. The investigation of these case files of 300 children in north Kerry was, as the Taoiseach knows, originally ordered in the aftermath of the 2022 Maskey report. The distressing findings of that report into the care of vulnerable children by south Kerry CAMHS provoked shock and public anger at the time. That investigation revealed that children in crisis were subjected to harm, that there were serious deficiencies in care, that there was a total lack of oversight and that children were being overprescribed medications. These negligent prescribing practices had devastating consequences, which included psychological distress, cognitive impairment, considerable weight gain, excess sedation and high blood pressure. I have met with and spoken to some of the young people and families in Kerry and they have told me of the devastation this caused to their lives. One heartbroken father told me how he dreamed of his son striding the pitch of Croke Park. He was a fine young footballer, but following the lad's treatment by CAMHS this father has been left wondering if his son will ever be able to watch a match, never mind have a pint or a friend. This father, like so many other parents, is filled with guilt for trusting a system which failed their children.

Today, the full story of what was done to children and young people in the care of north Kerry CAMHS has been brought to light. The findings of this report seem damning. The HSE has already issued apologies to more than half of those whose files were examined. The human price that has been paid was laid bare by one mother who spoke on the radio this morning. Mary from Tralee said the treatment her teenage daughter received from north Kerry CAMHS devastated her life. This child had been diagnosed with depression and PTSD. She had been prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety and antipsychotic medication. Shockingly, the HSE has admitted that she was diagnosed without an appropriate assessment, that there was no clear rationale given for the medication prescribed and that there was a complete absence in the monitoring of the impact of these drugs on the child. Mary has said all this destroyed her child and that there was no happiness left for this child. This is just one case of hundreds, just one family of hundreds and just one area. These young people were in crisis. They reached out for help, and they were failed. Teipeadh go tubaisteach ar an gcúram meabhairshláinte do leanaí agus daoine óga i gCiarraí. Ní mór don Rialtas gníomhú chun a chinntiú nach dtarlóidh a leithéid riamh arís. What will the Taoiseach do now to ensure the children and young people affected by this scandal get the proper care they need? Has he established if this scandal is more widespread? What other areas does it affect? How many children, young people and families does it affect? How will he assure families in Kerry and right across the country that this will never happen again?

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a rá gur uafásach an scéal ar fad é an méid a tharla i gCiarraí thuaidh maidir le cúrsaí leigheas intinne. Is drochscéal é. Is féidir liom a rá go bhfuil sé uafásach. At the outset, the report is not published yet. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will bring a memorandum to the Government this afternoon and will publish the report in its entirety in the aftermath of the Cabinet meeting later this evening.

The first principle in medicine is "Do no harm". Harm has been done here in the treatment of several young people in north Kerry. The Minister was anxious for open disclosure meetings with the families and those affected to be the first priority, in advance of the publication of any report. That has happened, and simultaneous to that, both assessment and proper treatment are being provided to put those young people on a proper pathway. It was important from the perspective of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, that in the interests of the children and families, they would be communicated with directly in advance of publication of this report. My understanding is that letters were issued to all the families yesterday to arrive this morning. That was a clear instruction, and I think it was obviously the correct thing to do. The families will continue to have access to a clinical support team and a dedicated open disclosure helpline. The Minister will visit Kerry tomorrow and Friday to meet and engage with families affected by the findings in the report, with CAMHS staff and with the regional health forum.

In addition, after the situation in south Kerry, the Minister commissioned a national audit. The HSE's prescribing audit and the Mental Health Commission did not identify any concerns relating to prescribing practice in services outside of Kerry. Dr. Colette Halpin and about ten consultant psychiatrists undertook this review. It took longer than anticipated, and there will need to be an extended look back in terms of absolute certainty for all cases. I also understand there is a referral to the Medical Council in respect of what has transpired here. I listened this morning to the mother of one of the young people concerned. It was a harrowing account. The issue spoke to overmedication, a lack of a multidisciplinary approach and a lack of complementary therapies or therapies other than medication and psychiatry, which is a fundamental issue. The HSE serious incident team was established to deal with this. This is absolutely unacceptable. The same approach will be taken with all the families involved, as was taken in terms of south Kerry with an apology from the HSE in the first instance, but also to engage with each family. The more fundamental focus and priority is on the well-being of all involved and that there will be continued supports for them.

The difficulty is that the priority and focus has not been on the well-being of children and young people. In fact, many families and parents wonder what on earth is going on with this litany of appalling treatment of children and young people. We have children whose SNAs are being taken from them, children waiting for an assessment of need, children with no school places, parents forced to campaign and fight for basic services, and children with scoliosis and spina bifida waiting for surgery. Seven-year-old Roxanne Kelly and her family now have to fundraise for the surgery she requires in America.

Parents and families are literally battling the State daily for basic services and support. This has now become a hallmark of Government and a hallmark of how our society operates. It is deeply unacceptable. What about accountability? Who in the end is answerable for all of these things that happen daily to children and young people, let it be said on the watch of the Taoiseach's Government?

Fundamentally, there has to be accountability from a clinical perspective. That has to happen. We do have a Medical Council and we do have a framework. I do not want to prejudge anything here but clearly there are issues in relation to that dimension of it.

We have to be very careful at the same time. The Deputy mentioned a case there. That is, fundamentally, a clinical decision-making situation. I think it is wrong for Dáil Éireann to attempt to adjudicate and, if you like, ordain what should happen where there are very serious clinical issues at stake, for example in the case of the person the Deputy mentioned. I have read the background note to that case and I do not want to discuss it in public. There needs to be some sense of order here in terms of what lines we cross. Are we now going to be dictating the optimal clinical situation for someone to have surgery in every individual case? That is not tenable.

Of course it is not.

It is not tenable and I do not think we can as a Dáil but that is what the Deputy was suggesting in that last exchange.

Thank you, Taoiseach.

No, I am not.

Thank you, Taoiseach. The time is up.

You just did and I think it is wrong-----

The time is up.

That is a cynical-----

I call Deputy Bacik.

I am sorry but you referenced the case. I am happy to discuss that case with you offline-----

Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Bacik.

Given your record on children and young people in the State-----

Taoiseach, Deputy Bacik is on her feet.

The Taoiseach is not happy to answer questions.

I am happy to answer questions.

Taoiseach, please. The time is up. I call Deputy Bacik.