Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. I totally get it. That brings me onto my next question. Mental Health Reform's pre-budget submission calls for 10% of the overall health budget to be spent on mental health services. Some political parties want to see the extra €4 billion that was provided as part of the additional funding for health services during Covid-19 retained in the health budget. If that were to happen, I certainly hope that the 10%, and maybe even more, of the overall health budget that Mental Health Reform is requesting would be allocated to mental health services.

When the Minister of State attended the Joint Sub-Committee on Mental Health last week she referred to a figure of 5%, and that may be a little higher because of related spending in different Departments, etc. Taking the best scenario possible for spending on mental health services, and including cross-departmental spending in this regard, what percentage would the witnesses think that spending is at in real terms in this regard?