4135. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if she will detail the plan and timeline in Louth to have a fully populated CAMHS ID multidisciplinary team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59369/26]

I want every child and young person with an intellectual disability to get timely and appropriate mental health supports.

I launched the new CAMHS MHID Model of Care in 2022, and I am fully committed to the phased rollout of CAMHS-ID teams to provide nationwide access to dedicated services for young people.

Supporting children and young people with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions requires input from a range of disciplines as detailed in the Model of Care. Baseline teams comprising core disciplines (a consultant psychiatrist, a senior psychologist and a clinical nurse specialist) for the service have been established across the country, in recognition of the importance of achieving national coverage quickly.

Under Budget 2026, I secured over €11 million to enhance youth mental health services, including funding for 11 new CAMHS-ID posts to establish two new CAMHS MHID teams and uplift existing services. There are now 10 CAMHS-ID baseline teams nationally (of the 16 recommended by the Model of Care) with a total of 77.6 funded WTE posts. The development of teams continues on a phased basis, supported by ongoing investment through successive budgets each year.

The rollout of the specialist teams is not just a matter of resources; it also depends on the availability of professionals with the necessary skills and experience in supporting children with both an intellectual disability and a co-occurring mental health condition. These services often require co-working – or shared care - between CDNT and baseline CAMHS-ID teams.

Both the HSE National Service Plan 2026 and the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People commit to a Single Point of Access for Children’s Services across Primary Care, Disability and Mental Health Services.

This is to ensure children and families do not have to navigate trying to find the right service to meet their needs but rather places that responsibility on the HSE. Indeed, this approach has been modelled on a ‘No Wrong Door’ initiative we are developing within youth mental health services to match mental health services to the right needs for each child and young person.

In areas without a CAMHS-ID team at present, shared care and consultation arrangements are agreed locally between general community CAMHS teams and Children’s Disability Network Teams.

I am fully committed to rolling out specialist and dedicated services for children with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions in every part of the country, including Louth and I will continue to prioritise CAMHS MHID in future estimates processes.