Kerry councillors ‘part of the problem’ says councillor as CAMHS report remains unpublished

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has slammed the delay in releasing a controversial HSE report as “one of our greatest shames” as three years has passed since its announcement.

Councillor Dierdre Ferris called for the elected members to demand the report’s release and to work towards resolving the “legacy of trauma”.

The North Kerry CAMHS look-back review was first announced in January 2023 following a random audit of 50 files in the previous year which found issues in 16 cases, including some relating to prescribing practices and clinical concerns.

The review looking at a further 300 cases is now in its third year, with several dates having been indicated for possible publication previously.

“I’m not sure why they feel the need to hide the findings, but I think its blatantly obvious to every single person and every single story we’ve heard,” said Cllr Ferris.

“It is one of our greatest shames that we failed our children the way we did and I say it because we [elected members] are part of the problem.”

“We need to hold our hands up and now demand that publication is done immediately so we can work towards resolving the issues…and the legacy of trauma in those homes.”

“I refuse to be part of that problem any longer.”

The lack of published findings means children and their families from North Kerry are still excluded from compensation schemes.

The HSE have said previously “it not possible to provide a publication date at present, however we are determined to have a final report that is comprehensive and informed”.

Kerry TD Pa Daly raised the review in the parliamentary question last month, slamming the government and the HSE for their continued failure to publish it.

“That we remain in the dark is totally unacceptable. It is a damning indictment of this government and the last,” he said.

“We are fast approaching the third anniversary of when the North Kerry lookback review was first initiated. Despite repeated promises to the contrary, it has yet to be published.

“Not only has the review yet to be published, the government and the HSE are stonewalling at every turn.”

The health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD replied that she was “closely monitoring” developments on child and adolescent mental health services in North Kerry, including the timeline for the completion of the Lookback Review.