Ward says mental health is not a Government priority

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has said Minister Butler must publish legal advice on the regulation of CAMHS.

The Dublin Mid-West TD was speaking after receiving a parliamentary question response from Minister Mary Butler in which she said she had received legal advice that she was not able to regulate CAMHS under the Mental Health Act, 2001.

Ward reiterated his stance that the current Governemnt does not treat mental health as “one of their top priorities.”

He criticised Government for delaying legislation to reform the Mental Health Act of 2001, with the publication date pushed out until summer at the earliest.

He said that a delay in CAMHS reform has “real consequences.”

“I introduced legislation to regulate CAMHS and give the Mental Health Commission the statutory powers to oversee the implementation of their recommendations, that they made in following their review into CAMHS. Shamefully, the government kicked this legislation down the road,” Ward said.

Ward said he has written to the Minister responsible for the issue, Mary Butler of Fianna Fáil, asking if she will grant necessary powers under Section 34 of the Mental Health Act – Butler said she has received legal advice that she is not in a position to do so.

“This is disappointing for all of the mental health organisations that have been calling for this to be published as a matter of urgency, but it is also disappointing for the thousands of people who use our mental health services.”

“This Bill is an opportunity to put in place a robust, person-centric mental health legislation that will protect the rights of people with mental health difficulties in the decades ahead.”

Ward noted that the Bill was prioritised for drafting in the Autumn session, but accused Government of “putting it on the long finger,” stating that the current government are not treating the issue with the “urgency” that it deserves.

“With the possibility that a general election could be called at any point, the delay in the publication of the Bill may mean that it may not be completed in the lifetime of this Government,” he noted.

“We have had review after review into CAMHS, but no urgency from Government to prioritise this legislation. This delay is letting our young people down once again.”

“Pre-legislative scrutiny for the update of Mental Health Act 2001 was carried out on in October of 2022. The fact that we are over a year on and it is still not on the priority publication list shows to me that it is not a priority for Government.

“The longer this is delayed, the longer that service users and frontline mental health organisations have to wait.”