500 children waiting more than a year to access care

ALMOST 2,800 young people are on a waiting list for child and adolescent mental health services, HSE figures have shown.

Almost 500 children under 18 have been waiting for more than one year to access services. More than 600 have been waiting for between six months and one year, 615 for three to six months and 1,079 for less than three months.

Assistant National Director for Mental Health at the HSE Martin Rogan said it was policy to get an initial appointment for 70% of new cases within three months, and this target was at 68%.