Minister Butler welcomes public consultation to inform the development of the State’s first national standards for CAMHS
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 14 October 2025
- Last updated on: 14 October 2025
The Minister for Mental Health and Government Chief Whip, Mary Butler, has today welcomed the commencement of the Mental Health Commission’s (MHC) public consultation to inform the development of the State’s first national standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The Mental Health Bill expands the Mental Health Commission’s oversight to include all community services, including CAMHS. The standards being developed by the MHC, which this consultation forms part of, will inform the future statutory system of registration, inspection and regulation of all community mental health services.
Reflecting the importance of the regulation of community CAMHS, Minister Butler stated:
“I am providing for the regulation of community CAMHS through the Mental Health Bill to improve service quality, further safeguard patient safety and ensure a more modern, person-centred approach to mental health care for children and young people. To facilitate swift implementation of these provisions, I wrote to the Mental Health Commission in June to request they begin the development of national standards for CAMHS ahead of enactment of the Bill.
“I welcome the opportunity this consultation provides for people with lived and living experience to input into the development of standards for CAMHS. Hearing the voices of people with lived experience is vital to improving services, and I encourage people with experience of CAMHS to participate in this consultation.”
The Mental Health Bill remains a priority for Government, completing its passage through the Dáil in July this year and concluding Second Stage in the Seanad in September. The Bill is now awaiting Committee Stage in the Seanad and is expected to be enacted by year end.