Deputy Thomas Pringle, said Donegal children are waiting too long for assessments with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Deputy Pringle said: “More must be done to reduce the waiting time for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. More than 140 Donegal children were waiting for first assessment earlier this year, some of them waiting for more than a year.”
He brought up the issue as a parliamentary question submitted to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
The response revealed that Donegal Mental Health Services confirmed that as of January 31st of this year, 144 children were waiting on a first assessment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in County Donegal.
This waiting list included 70 children waiting up to three months, 24 children waiting three to six months, six children waiting six to nine months, 11 children waiting nine to 12 months, 17 children waiting 12 to 15 months, eight children waiting 15 to 18 months, three children waiting 18 to 21 months and five children waiting 21 to 24 months.
Deputy Pringle said: “Resources must be made available to mental health services to ensure that waiting times are reduced and children get the care they deserve, as soon as possible.”
