227. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on establishing a single point of access for all children, in conjunction with child and adolescent mental health services and primary care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52090/26]

As the Deputy will be aware, it is a priority for me that the HSE develop a Single Point of Access to create an integrated approach across Mental Health, Disability Services, and Primary Care to strengthen collaboration and deliver more consistent and equitable access for children and their families.

The approach is to ensure that the most appropriate service (primary care, disability or mental health) takes lead responsibility for the care of each child, and facilitates input from other care services if needed. For example, where an Autistic child is accepted into the care of a Community Disability Network Team, but they also have a moderate to severe mental health difficulty, CAMHS will also provide therapeutic input to that child’s care. This is known as ‘shared care’.

A National Implementation Group is in place within the HSE, and Health Regions have established their own Regional Steering Groups responsible for developing local implementation plans, and delivering this reform to simplify access to care for children and their families. These local Implementation Plans were signed off by the HSE CEO in December last. Many areas have already been implementing the Single Point of Access approach, and this continues to be rolled out nationally.

Separately, in youth mental health, we are also adopting a similar ‘No Wrong Door’ approach in connecting young people who have a mental health difficulty with the most appropriate level of care to match the young person’s need.

Referrals for CAMHS are up almost 70% since 2020, and we know many young people could be treated earlier – and more effectively - in an alternative service such as Jigsaw or where similar early intervention care options are available.

In Budget 2026, I secured funding for a range of youth mental health service improvements, including developing a digital ‘No Wrong Door’ approach for youth mental health. This is a key objective of the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan 2025-2027, and is being developed in response to challenges faced by families navigating multiple services, including duplication of referrals, inconsistent triage processes, and fragmented communication between services. It is designed to work within existing services, not as a new standalone service. It is fully aligned with wider health reform and the Children’s Services SPoA referral system detailed above.

There are currently three demonstration sites trialling this approach, with good initial outcomes, and the Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan has committed to mainstreaming this across all youth mental health services in the six Regional Health Areas during the lifetime of the Plan.

I have referred this PQ to the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the more detailed operational information sought.