Almost 70% of Cork patients on psych wait list for longer than a year

Some 73% of people aged between five and 17 awaiting primary care psychology treatment in Cork have been on waiting lists for more than a year, data shows.

The total number of children and adolescents on psychology waiting lists in Cork has increased from 5,275 at the end of 2024 to 6,220 nine months later, the latest date for which data is available.

Primary care psychology services are for children and adolescents with mild to moderate mental health difficulties, while Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) teams treat children and adolescents with moderate to severe difficulties.

Waiting

HSE figures show that, as of the end of September 2025, there were a total of 6,312 people, including adults, waiting for treatment in Cork.

Of these, 2,352 are in Cork North Lee, 2,381 in South Lee, 1,028 in North Cork, and 551 in West Cork.

Of the total number of patients on Cork waiting lists, almost 70% are waiting more than a year to be seen, with

472 waiting less than 12 weeks;

617 waiting 12 to 26 weeks;

437 waiting 26 to 39 weeks;

435 waiting 39 to 52 weeks,

4,351 more than 52 weeks.

No further breakdown is provided as to how long these people have been on waiting lists.

The majority of people awaiting primary care psychology treatment are aged between five and 17 — with 5,606 people in this age bracket awaiting an appointment across Cork, as well as 729 children under the age of five, and 92 adults.

Prolonged

Prolonged waiting times are overwhelmingly concentrated among children over five and adolescents, which represent 89% of the total waiting list. 

This is compared to just 11.5% of those aged five and under on the waiting lists, with 1.4% being adults aged 18 to 65.

The information was released to Labour TD Marie Sherlock.

Elsewhere, Cork Labour senator Laura Harmon said that the waiting lists across Cork rose by 945 in nine months.

“The minister for children and disability, minister for education, and minister for health must deliver a cross-departmental plan to address this issue urgently,” she said.

Delays

She added: “Delays of this nature interfere with providing developmental supports for children and in accessing appropriate school place — along with countless other challenges.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have let these lists accumulate for too long.”

Asked to comment on the latest available figures, a spokesperson stated that the HSE is “committed to delivering efficient high-quality services to all eligible service users”.

“Each health region is focused on improving access to care in order to reduce waiting times for patients in the context of resources available,” they said.