Families of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) patients have said they are "heartbroken and angry" at the findings of the report into North Kerry CAMHS.
The report, commissioned by the Health Service Executive, found a risk for potential harm in 209 cases.
It determined that in 195 cases the risk was moderate, in two cases it was determined as major, while 12 cases were determined as minor risk.
In a statement, Families for Reform of CAMHS, which was set up in May 2023 and is made up of 1,500 members, said its members trusted a system set up by the HSE to protect children and that their trust "has been deeply shaken".
"These are not just figures on a page. They are our children were already struggling and who turned to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for help," the group said.
"Many of our members have direct experience of these services. Some are families whose children attended Kerry CAMHS.
"For them, this report is not abstract it reflects lived experiences, unanswered questions, and ongoing worry about the impact on their children."
The group described as "devastating" the fact that many children were placed at risk of moderate or major harm.
It said that while "moderate harm" may sound clinical, for a child it can mean "months of worsening mental health, distress, side effects from treatment, and disruption to school and family life".
"No parent expects that seeking help could make things worse," it said.
The group said families need "more than reports and apologies" and called for accountability, transparency and urgent reform, "so that no other family experiences this pain".
"Our children deserve to feel safe when they ask for help," the group concluded in a statement.
Report makes for 'very distressing reading', says solicitor
Solicitor Keith Rolls, who represents over 100 clients directly impacted by the contents of the North Kerry CAMHS report, said the report makes for "very distressing reading", adding that it has caused "a lot of upset and anger among Kerry families today".
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One, Mr Rolls said the report is "truly staggering" and the figures involved are "stark".
Regarding overprescription, he said there were cases where individuals were prescribed seven psychotropic medications at the same time.
"The inappropriate prescribing of anti-psychotic medication can have such a detrimental impact on children and young adolescents and unfortunately this medication was not necessary."
Mr Rolls said he hopes the next steps involve the incorporation of a North Kerry compensation scheme similar to the scheme that was incorporated in South Kerry.
Watch: Solicitor for CAMHS families says report 'truly staggering'
He said he hopes families will have the opportunity to seek appropriate redress without having to go through High Court litigation.
Mr Rolls said a proposal to review some files in North Kerry prior to 2022 would be "completely inappropriate".
"This is about HSE personnel and children who were exposed to their harmful care," he said.
"Timelines are insufficient at the moment. This is about the personnel who were responsible for the inappropriate care.
"And these personnel need to be held accountable. And every case where they have treated a patient, those files need to be reviewed without further delay."
Ken Kilbride, CEO of ADHD Ireland, said all stakeholders must come together to deliver the services all children with mental health services need and in particular those with ADHD, which for far too long has been the Cinderella condition in the service.
Pa Daly TD, Sinn Féin Kerry, called for a "full review" in to all of the files in North Kerry.
He told RTÉ's Drivetime that today's report only deals with those who were "actually in the system."
Deputy Daly said: "I didn't think it could get any worse but really what has been going on here while similar is even worse.
"And it's particularly upsetting for the families that they see the most vulnerable of people, those with intellectual disabilities, being really, the only treatment that was given to them was medication."
Plight of mother of CAMHS patient 'harrowing' - Labour TD
Labour TD Marie Sherlock said the plight of a woman whose child has mental health issues and who presented to North Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in 2019 was "harrowing listening" and "would have sent a chill down the spine of any parent".
Ms Sherlock was speaking in the Dáil about Mary, the mother of one child who was among more than 300 children treated by North Kerry CAMHS who were the subjects of an independent report.
Mary shared her story with RTÉ News.
Ms Sherlock said that as of November, 1,800 children were waiting six months or longer for CAMHS therapy.
Some GPs have told her that they put off referring children to CAHMS because of the waiting times.
"We're coming from a low base," Chief Whip Mary Butler acknowledged while pointing to increased funding.
"Some people get a really good response," she told the Dáil.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described as "damning" the findings of the independent report.
She told the Dáil that the HSE has already issued apologies to half of those whose files were examined.
"The findings of this report seem damning," Ms McDonald said.
The Sinn Féin leader said the "human price is laid bare" by one mother who spoke to RTÉ News.
Watch: North Kerry CAMHS report findings 'seem damning', says McDonald
She called on the Government to take steps to ensure this will never happen again.
Responding, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the first principle in medicine is to do no harm.
He stated that there was over medication and a lack of a multi-disciplinary approach which he described as "absolutely unacceptable".
"Fundamentally there has to be accountability from a clinical perspective, and that has to happen," he said.
Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide said the report raises serious concerns about prescribing practices.
"It also highlights major weaknesses in governance, including the absence of clear operating procedures and inadequate physical health monitoring for children receiving treatment," Mr Quaide said.
The Cork East TD said it is "deeply troubling" that serious issues have emerged in North Kerry after a previous review of services in South Kerry in 2022 identified "serious risks" within CAMHS.
"Families in Kerry, and across the country, need decisive and competent intervention, not empty promises and threadbare services.
"Confidence in this service has been seriously damaged, and the Government must now explain why these services have been allowed to deteriorate to the extent they have with appalling consequences for some children and families," Mr Quaide added.
