In Ireland, demand for child and adolescent mental health services continues to strain existing mental health facilities, with more than 4,000 children currently stuck on waiting lists for months — and hundreds waiting more than a year for care.
According to official data released by the Health Service Executive (HSE), by the end of September 2025, 4,047 children nationwide were awaiting access to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Among those, 531 children have already been waiting over 12 months, with the worst‐affected region being Cork and Kerry in the HSE South West.
The backlog is widely described as “indefensible.” Deteriorating wait times — with many cases pending beyond the six-month threshold set by law — have prompted criticism from both opposition lawmakers and child welfare advocates.
In response, the government has acknowledged serious regional disparities and pledged to review how funding is allocated to mental health facilities, especially for child and adolescent care. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said the current situation, especially in regions like the South West, is “not acceptable.”
The current delays have significant real-life consequences: many families report that children with moderate to severe mental health conditions have had to navigate prolonged periods without diagnosis or therapeutic intervention, increasing risks of deterioration.
Mental-health advocates urge the expansion of mental health facilities and hiring of additional therapists, psychologists and support staff. They argue that without meaningful, structural investment — including new facilities and staffing — waiting lists will only grow, further undermining the health and well-being of vulnerable children.
For Ireland’s mental health system, this backlog highlights a systemic failure in matching supply (mental health facilities, trained staff) with escalating demand for youth mental health care. The coming weeks will see pressure mount on policymakers to deliver concrete reforms.
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