T.D. Pa Dalys call for urgent assistance in essential Mental Health services in Kerry, and publication of the Halpin report, with any further delay

On January 21, 2026, Pa Daly (Sinn Féin TD for Kerry) raised the urgent demand for Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) services for young people in Kerry in the Dáil, in the context of ongoing mental health service concerns and delays surrounding the Halpin report.

High demand and service gaps

• Wait Times: Deputy Daly highlighted the “dangerous” wait times for mental health assessments, specifically noting cases where young people in active crisis have had to wait 8–9 hours in Emergency Departments (EDs) at University Hospital Kerry.
• Specific SCAN Needs: He emphasised that the current provision of SCAN nurses, who are trained to provide rapid, community-based assessments for those with suicidal ideation, is insufficient to meet the rising demand among the youth population in Kerry.

Regional inequity

• Consistency: He called for mental health initiatives to be “even and consistent” across the country. 
• Resource Allocation: Deputy. Daly questioned the government on the rollout of the 12 additional SCAN nurses promised in the 2026 budget, seeking guarantees that a proportionate number would be assigned to the Kerry region.

Integration with existing services

• The “Pathways” Issue: He stressed that adding nurses is only part of the solution; they must be integrated into a functional “crisis response pathway.”
• CAMHS Context: He linked the need for SCAN nurses to the broader issues in Kerry’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), which have faced significant scrutiny. He argued that without more SCAN nurses, the pressure on an already struggling CAMHS system would become unsustainable.

The Halpin Report on CAMHS (North Kerry) remains outstanding. 

Mr. Daly again called for the urgent publication of the Halpin Reports into the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in North Kerry.

He noted that while the Minister confirmed the report was complete in July 2025, she states she has not yet received it and will publish it upon receipt. 

Coleman Legal LLP represent many families affected by substandard care while attending North Kerry CAMHS. The continued delay in the report is causing further distress to those families. 

Call for action

Deputy Daly urged the Minister of State for Mental Health to ensure that the new suicide reduction strategy (scheduled for implementation in Q1 2026) includes specific, ring-fenced funding for community-based crisis nurses in Kerry to prevent individuals from ever having to reach the Emergency Department.

Coleman Legal LLP, through their close engagement with clients and their loved ones, are very familiar with the hardship individuals face when presenting to A&E services with suicidal ideation.

Both children and adults are forced to present to A&E departments and endure painstaking waits while they are at their most vulnerable. 

Coleman Legal LLP represents not only families in Kerry but also families nationwide who are concerned about the treatment of young people in CAMHS.

These concerns include delayed access to the service, inappropriate medication, inadequate monitoring in line with standard medical observations, and insufficient follow-up and coordination with other related services. 

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