A Government minister says people don't want 'tea and sympathy' over a recent south Kerry CAMHS report.
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris says people want answers and accountability.
A review found that 'significant harm' was caused to 46 children at a south Kerry service between July 2016 and April 2021.
It found that the care received by a total of 240 young people was sub-standard - with examples of "unreliable diagnoses, inappropriate prescriptions and poor monitoring of treatment and potential adverse effects".
The affected children suffered issues including weight gain, sedation, elevated blood pressure and galactorroea (the production of breast milk).
Minister Harris, who is also a former health minister, told The Hard Shoulder his reaction to the report was "one of absolute horror".
"We all think of these things not just as politicians, but as parents.
"We all think of the vulnerable children reaching out to the health service - and finding not only did they not receive support, but that they were harmed - is the most horrific thing possible.
"There's not a minister for health in the world who wouldn't feel exactly like that.
"But I do think we really need to get to the bottom of this, because what people don't want - and what parents don't just want - from Government ministers is, and I don't mean this flippantly, is any sort of tea and sympathy.
"They want answers, they want accountability."
He says the Cabinet will be formally briefed on the report next Tuesday.
And while he welcomes a review of all CAMHS services, announced by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, he says he would welcome the investigation going even further.
"I read in media reports today, and I haven't been briefed on this, but if true I think it's welcome that both the Medical Council and the Gardaí have received information in relation to this too.
"It does seem to me - I note from the HSE report, 35 recommendations across a whole range of areas - there's a complexity here, but that's not a reason to not to get to the bottom of it."
"And we absolutely have to do that".
