Kerry County Councillors are demanding the immediate publication of a long-delayed look back review.
Nearly three years after serious concerns were identified in North Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), the junior minister for mental health, Mary Butler, received the long-awaited report at the weekend.
At the latest full meeting of Kerry County Council, Tralee councillor Deirdre Ferris said elected members were “part of the problem” for failing children and families affected by CAMHS.
She told councillors it was one of their greatest shames as local government officials.
Cllr Ferris said councillors must now take responsibility and demand the publication of the North Kerry CAMHS Look Back Review, so its findings can be examined and action taken.
She said the delay continues to affect these young people, now adults, and their families, and is leaving a lasting trauma.
The review was commissioned by the HSE in 2023, following an audit of random open cases in 2022, and after an earlier CAMHS review in South Kerry, and the publication of the Maskey Report.
The review examined all open North Kerry CAMHS cases as of the 21st of November 2022.
Cllr Ferris said she attended open disclosure meetings nearly two years ago, where findings were made for all 300 cases, yet the report remains unpublished.
In a separate motion, Councillor Paul Daly asked for the Minister for Health to announce when the Halpin report will be released, saying families have waited far too long.
He said publication is essential if trust in the mental health system is to be restored.
