Waiting lists 'out of control' as child will be waiting 13 years for care

Extra.ie​

09-07-2025

Children are waiting 'unacceptable' lengths of time for mental health care, with one expected to wait 13 years, damning new HSE figures show.
A young person in the Dublin northwest region has a 706-week wait – the equivalent of 13.5 years. In Galway, the longest wait is 500 weeks or more than 9.5 years. As of May this year, over 12,000 children and teenagers are waiting more than a year for psychological treatment.
Liam Quaide TD, the Social Democrats' spokesman on mental health, said the HSE figures released to him through a parliamentary question reveal the 'abject state' of child mental health services across the country. Children are waiting 'unacceptable' lengths of time for mental health care, with one expected to wait 13 years, damning new HSE figures show. Pic: Getty Images
He said post-primary care child and adolescent services around the country are 'now in deep crisis', with waiting lists 'out of control and staff morale on the floor'. '
'This has left families languishing on one waiting list after another, passed around from service to service with little to no support,' Mr Quaide added.
A HSE spokeswoman acknowledged last night that the rate of referral, 'remains a challenge' for the health service. Mr Quaide said the number of young people waiting for primary care psychology services in Cork/ Kerry has risen from 5,000 to 6,500 in the past year. Pic: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
He was also critical of the initial approach taken by the HSE to provide data on children waiting more than one year, which obscured the extent of the delays experienced by some children.
He said: 'It's worth noting that I had considerable difficulty obtaining these figures from the HSE, who were originally only providing me with a category of '+52 weeks' for young people waiting anywhere between one and 13 years for an appointment.
'One of the main purposes of primary care is to intervene early before difficulties become entrenched, and the young person might need either the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or a Children's Disability Network Team. Pic: Getty Images
'Primary care services have been hamstrung by the HSE's current recruitment policy known as the 'Pay and Numbers Strategy', as well as the official recruitment embargo before that.' The figures also show that 8,829 children have been waiting for more than two years for psychology services.
Mr Quaide added: 'At no stage has the HSE attempted to recruit sufficient staff in primary care services to address the additional level of need.
Rory Hearne, a Social Democrat TD who represents the Dublin North-West constituency, said: 'I've been contacted by many parents of children in my constituency who have been on unacceptably long waiting lists for primary care. Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
'I cannot understand the current position of the Government; all evidence supports early intervention as key for transformative outcomes.'
He said that the problem extends across a wide range of services, not just mental health. Mr Hearne added: 'For example one parent contacted me whose child had speech difficulties.
'They had to pay privately for speech and language, and in his short six years, they have had five therapists. Three of those went to Australia. To deny a child the right to learn to communicate effectively at a time when they will benefit the most is unacceptable.
'They did subsequently get a small amount of public therapy, and their son took a huge step forward under her guidance, but it was too short.'
He said that he had been told by one family that the lack of incentive and professional wellness to support these professionals at any level was 'beyond disappointing'. It is the parents' belief, he said, that the handful we are training are 'clearly valued more abroad'.
The TD said that a 'significant issue' locally was housing and childcare for psychologists, alongside retention and recruitment. He also said there is a 'huge' problem with understaffing.
The longest wait for occupational therapy is 502 weeks (over 9.5 years) in Dublin North. The longest wait for physiotherapy is 369 weeks (over seven years) in North Lee, Cork. For speech and language therapy, the longest wait is 313 weeks (over six years) in Dublin, North-West.
A HSE spokeswoman said: 'Children's services by their nature are more complex in presentation and require more attendance compared to services for adults. The HSE recognises the need to address waiting lists, and this is reflected in our commitment to developing the provision of Community Services through the newly established Health Regions, in line with Sláintecare.
'This involves a significant restructuring in how services are delivered to ensure integrated care is provided equitably and efficiently for those who need it. It should be noted that when children transfer from specialist disability services to primary care, waiting time is calculated from the date of the original referral.'
In 2023, the rate of referral for therapy services grew by 7% and increased by a further 1% in 2024. The spokeswoman said: 'The increased referral rate is particularly notable in physiotherapy, psychology and audiology.'
The HSE did not address the up to 13.5-year waiting list for some children for psychology services.