The Taoiseach has told the Dáil that he will seek a report on resource and outcome comparisons for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in each region around the country.
Leo Varadkar was responding to questions from Sinn Féin's Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty who has described as scandalous a report from Children’s Charity Barnardos which shows that more than 37,000 are waiting for mental health, disability and speech and language treatments across the country.
The report highlights that some children have yet to receive even an initial assessment and that 78% with a disability, or suspected disability are overdue an assessment.
It also found that thousands of children were waiting for mental health assessments, with many waiting over a year.
HSE figures show there were 2,403 children waiting on an appointment for CAMHS at the end of August this year.
In response to Deputy Doherty, the Taoiseach said that 10,000 staff were working in CAMHS, and that 1,500 new posts had been filled.
Mr Varadkar acknowledged that there were difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, but said many other countries were suffering the same shortages.
He said there was also variations in waiting lists for CAMHS appointments around the country, despite the same resources being available to each region and said he would be looking for a report on resource and outcome comparisons.
He added that it was 'not acceptable' that children were waiting long periods.
