Government’s Budget Fails Children in Need and Mental Health Services
Labour’s Health Spokesperson, Duncan Smith TD, speaking in the Dáil had condemned Government’s Budget 2025 as a cynical attempt to buy votes, while neglecting critical areas that require urgent attention.
Deputy Smith said:
“This budget might seem like it’s covering all bases, but if you’re a child waiting for a place in a class for Autism, it has nothing for you. If you’re a child over the age of 8 and will soon lose access to free GP care, it’s nothing but a disappointment. If you’re one of the many children disgracefully left waiting far too long for an Assessment of Need (AON), this budget does nothing to speed up that process. And if you’re a child waiting for essential speech and language therapy, you’ve been completely forgotten.
“Mental health services, in particular, remain an area where this Government has failed time and time again. CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) waiting lists are utterly appalling. The Government can claim they’ve made progress, but let’s be blunt—what they’ve done simply hasn’t worked.
“Now, there are many contributing factors, from staff morale to outdated practices like working with paper records. But at its core, the problem is a chronic lack of funding. We know we need a minimum of €120 million is needed for mental health services in 2025, and yet, this budget hasn’t even reached that level.
“We in Labour propose a radically different approach. In Labour’s Alternative Budget we proposed funding to be directed at reducing waiting lists by guaranteeing mental health teams are fully staffed and by developing new beds and care pathways. A key priority for us would be perinatal mental health, including the much-needed opening of an in-patient Mother and Baby unit. We would also prioritise increased supports for the national clinical programmes covering eating disorders, ADHD, early intervention in psychosis, and dual diagnosis. It’s about building up teams and creating the right model of care for everyone who needs it.
“We need a public service that will build, care, teach and deliver for our communities. Labour will continue to fight for proper funding and policies that deliver real results for children, families, and those in need of mental health services.”