Ms Caroline McGrath:

Without doubt there is an issue in terms of resources being needed in the area of mental health. However, there is also an issue in the context of ensuring accountability for how the resources that are allocated are used. A consistent ask by Mental Health Reform in its pre-budget submissions has been that appropriate information systems should be introduced in order that we might effectively track inputs into mental health services, how resources are being used and what are the outcomes. The Inspector of Mental Health Services noted in his most recent report a stagnancy in the area of mental health and, perhaps, a movement backwards. It is critical that the resources being allocated are used appropriately for community-based mental health services and that we do not risk movement back to a more institutionalised version of mental health services. There is a real risk that this may happen.

The risk relating to the mental health budget is that it has been absorbed into other areas of health services when pressure is on partly because we do not have good information systems that can tell us immediately where mental health services are at risk on foot of the fact that we do not have trolleys in accident and emergency departments or the same type of waiting list figures. We have very divergent mental health services throughout the country and that is a feature of culture and leadership. Values underpinning all of those issues can be addressed within existing resources. While we clearly need more resources, we must also ensure that the requisite structures and systems are in place. One positive note in this regard has been the appointment of a director of mental health services. That is positive and it was advocated for on a consistent basis. We must ensure that the office of the director will have accountability and responsibility in respect of budgeting. This, in turn, will allow us to ensure that the resources allocated are being most effectively used in developing community mental health services.