Micheál Martin to raise child psych referral crisis in context of confidence and supply deal

Opposition leader Micheál Martin is to raise the staffing crisis that has led to the closure to new referrals of a specialist service for children undergoing a mental health crisis in Cork in the context of his party’s confidence and supply arrangement with the Government, which Fine Gael is seeking to extend.

Mr Martin said it was “quite shocking” that the only alternative for children in crisis was to present themselves at an emergency department (ED) in Cork city for the purpose of undergoing psychiatric evaluation. There are currently 162 children waiting to be seen by the North Lee Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team.