More than 2,000 children and young people are on waiting lists for appointments in the Irish mental health system.

Now the man whose job it is to head up the Health Service Executive (HSE) department in the area is warning there is a limit to how far he 'can stretch it before it snaps'.

In an Irish Times interview Martin Rogan says mental health services of young people are coming under increasing strain.

However he says they are heading in the right direction - with extra staff being drafted in and resources being reworked to cover areas that need it.

'Not enough resources'

Mr Rogan has held the post since 2005.

"When you give resources you get good outcomes. When you deny resources you get late interventions" he said.

"You get people who are already severely labelled who will end up having a lifelong mental illness that could have been avoided".

"I don't have enough resources, I don't have enough beds, I don't have enough staff" he is quoted as saying this morning.

The Irish Times says that between January and September last year 75 young people were placed in adult units.

Mr. Rogan also stressed the need for different levels of care for young people with problems instead of pushing them towards the health service.

Speaking last January, Mr. Rogan outlined plans for investment.