Mental Health Commission Chief Executive John Farrelly has said there needs to be "a root and branch rebuild" of Ireland's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
An independent review of CAMHS has said it can not currently provide an assurance to all parents or guardians in all parts of Ireland, that their children have access to a safe, effective and evidence-based service.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Farrelly said: "There needs to be a rebuild, a root and branch rebuild of CAMHS. Not a tweaking around the edges, not addressing some issues - and in fact that's one of the recommendations that a proper strategy for CAMHS is put in place, approved by the HSE board and we look forward to working with the HSE on that."
Mr Farrelly said it is important that people understand the depth of this report, describing the findings as "shocking".
"There's an awful lot in it that needs responses," he added "If we have an ad-hoc response, things won't change."
Mr Farrelly said there is a need for a "generational shift" and agreed "that the variation in services and the integration of services for children in Ireland needs to improve".
The Chief Operations Officer of the Health Service Executive has said that when the interim report into CAMHS was received late last year, the HSE took the action necessary to address issues in relation to specific service users.
Damien McCallion said that the interim and final reports also point to deficits and shortcomings in the service the HSE provides to children and families, and it acknowledges these and has a programme of work now to address the issues.
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Mr McCallion said the steps include the progressing of a new HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Service improvement programme, the establishment of a new national office for Child and Youth Mental Health and the appointment of a dedicated National Lead and a National Clinical Lead (CAMHS Psychiatrist) for Child and Youth Mental Health to lead this office and the service improvement programme.
In a statement, the HSE said it welcomed the review and apologised "for anyone who has had a bad experience of our services".
Mr McCallion that while investment CAMHS and youth mental health service improvement has grown over the past decade, "we know improvements still need to be made and we are determined now to make substantial changes and improvements in the mental health services provided in Ireland to children and adolescents."
He said an audit of prescribing practice around the country has been carried out along with an audit of adherence to the CAMHS operation guidelines.
Mr McCallion said a review of all open cases, which had not had follow-up appointments in the previous six months, and of those who had been prescribed neuroleptic medication has been completed.
Out of a caseload of nearly 20,000 children and young people, a total of 576 open cases were identified and contacted.
Speaking in Castlebar, Co. Mayo this afternoon, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said information in today's report would be used to ensure every child, no matter their needs, would be protected.
She described the findings as "quite distressing" and that it was difficult to understand how some situations were allowed to happen.
